New York City’s crime continues to spiral as brazen robber recorded stealing $17,000 from old man

A brazen robber was recorded dragging an old man through the streets, while another trapped a lady in a subway turnstile to steal her metro card – in the latest surge of New York City crime.

The 66-year-old man, who was attacked in Queens on Saturday, was robbed of $17,000 when a violent man beat him for the bag of money. 

He was dragged kicking and screaming ‘help!’ down the Middle Village sidewalk as the two struggled over the bag in broad daylight.

The mugger eventually stomped on the man’s head and repeatedly punched him in the face, forcing him to let go of his money. 

The thief then ran away and hopped into a red Ford Fusion, which police say was driven by an accomplice. 

Police released images of the two men who robbed a 66-year-old man of $17,000 in broad daylight by dragging him down the street and beating him for the money

One suspect ran up and hit the man before dragging him down the sidewalk – but the 66-year-old held on tight to his money as long as he could

Seeing that the man was not giving up the money easily, the brazen mugger began punching the man repeatedly in the face until he let go

The thief then fled with the money and jumped into a red Ford Fusion, which was driven by an accomplice

Police also released pictures of the two in an attempt warn other city residents and bring the beaten man justice. 

The NYPD also arrested a man on Saturday who was caught on camera trapping a woman in a subway turnstile and forcing her to turn over her metro card.

Rene Castellanos, 61, trapped the 26-year-old woman for several minutes at the Rego Park subway station in Queens on October 11.

Police allege Castellanos first asked the woman to use her metro card, but when she refused, he forced himself inside the turnstile and grabbed her wallet. 

He then took the metro card and dropped the wallet. While charges against Castellanos are sealed, he is reportedly facing larceny charges. 

This latest subway incident occurs as crime in the city is up over 31 per cent from last year.  

Driving the increase is a more than 35 per cent increase in the number of robberies, and a 32.4 percent increase in burglaries.

Rene Castellanos, 61, trapped a woman in a subway turnstile before demanding she turn over her metro card

When the woman refused to turn it over, Castellanos entered the turnstile and grabbed her wallet before taking the metro card and tossing the wallet on the floor

Crime in New York City has been running rampant, up overall by 31.8 per cent on last year, with robbery up a shocking 35.5 per cent 

Felony assaults are also up 15 per cent over last year, while grand larcenies are up a whopping 43 per cent. 

But Mayor Eric Adams fled the crumbling city at the end of September to visit  hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, which he refers to as New York’s ‘sixth borough.’

Transit-related crimes have increased 43 per cent in the last 12 months in addition to a 16 per cent growth in felony assault charges, according to police records.

There were 1,165 crimes reported in the city transit system for the period last year compared to 1,670 this year.