Warnings About Muggings in St. Nicholas Park

CCNY students worry about safety after the NYPD and Public Safety at The City College of New York (CCNY) reported three robberies in St. Nicholas Park. Some  students want to find alternative routes to get to classes.

On November 4, CCNY Public Safety issued a campus wide alert detailing three robberies, two on October 29 and another on November 2. All three incidents occurred in the morning, approximately between 7:30 and 8:15 AM. 

Two men, dressed in all-black clothing and face masks believed to be between 14 and 16 years old, used physical force to steal personal belongings from three males, one of whom was affiliated with CCNY, according to the NYPD. The report did not specify if the individual was a student, professor or staff member. 

A student at CCNY studying computer science, Evan Haque takes the B train to 135th Street, and walks up the stairs through the park to get to campus. “In the past four years, I never felt unsafe going through the park, even in late nights. But after hearing about this incident, I am concerned for sure,” he said. He is now considering taking the CCNY Shuttle Bus or the one of the MTA buses nearby. 

Another student, Kristina Brown, who is studying sociology and management and administration, had visited the park on Thursday of the same week. She saw police officers and vehicles in the park but didn’t think much of it until a friend responded to her Instagram story and sent her the campus safety alert. 

Unlike Haque, Brown said she wasn’t surprised by the robberies, describing the park as “eerie.” “I personally don’t like walking through there, but it’s the fastest way for me to get from the train to campus,” she said.

While students are concerned about their safety, the suspects’ alleged ages have prompted a different reaction from a substitute teacher who has worked at nearby schools, including A. Philip Randolph Campus High School and Mott Hall High School. 

The teacher asked us not to use their name but inferred the alleged suspects might be high school students. “These robberies remind me that sometimes those behavior issues are a lot more serious and there’s only so much you can do to recognize and help when there’s dozens of kids you’re supporting every day,” he said.

He acknowledged that the suspects may not be from the area or attend nearby schools, but the incidents made him reflect on the challenges that educators face in supporting students outside of the classroom. 

CCNY Public Safety increased their presence in the surrounding areas and are coordinating with the NYPD’s 26th Precinct. They also encouraged community members to use the CCNY Shuttle Bus.