Spate of Violent Muggings at Franklin Avenue Station

There have been a series of muggings at the Franklin Avenue subway station on the 2/3/4/5 lines in November. In all three cases the victims were attacked in broad daylight, police said. 

At 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 13, a 15-year-old male said four men followed him into the subway station. After being hit in the back of the head by one of the men, the male was surrounded by the four suspects. Two of the perps restrained the male while one of the other men reached into his pocket and removed his cellphone. The suspects then ran off. 

The day before, at 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 12, a 26-year-old man was on a south bound 4 train heading to the Franklin Avenue station when two men approached him. One of the men showed the victim a box cutter asked the victim if he was OK. The victim said he said he was, and he got off the train when it arrived at the Franklin Avenue station.

The perps followed the victim off the train and one male said, "If you don't give me your cellphone, I'm going to cut you." The male pushed the victim to the ground, causing severe pain to his right knee, and removed his cellphone from his jacket.

The victim tried to chase after the perp, but the other suspect intervened, saying, "Don't chase him." Both suspects then ran away. The victim refused to be treated for his injuries.  

Less than two weeks before these incidents, at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 1, an 18-year-old man was waiting for a Brooklyn-bound 5 train when three teens got off a train and approached him. One suspect punched the man in the face and when the man tried to run away, a second suspect tripped him. Then all three perps began punching the man. The victim broke free and ran to the mezzanine area of the station, where a police officer was standing. 

Police arested a 16-year-old and 19-year-old male in connection with the incident immediately.