Rash of attacks in Prospect Park

  Eyewitness News' Ken Rosato

(New York -WABC, May 30, 2006) (WABC) -- Police in Brooklyn are warning about a string of gang attacks in and around Prospect Park. There have been at least nine attacks reported in the last few weeks.

Eyewitness News reporter Ken Rosato is live in Prospect Park with the story.

It's a trend that has many local resident concerned: nine muggings in six weeks.

Connie Williams, Park Slope Resident: "Knocked me down. I fell on my back and hit my head, all on the cobblestones."

Connie Williams is a victim of muggers along Prospect Park West, though she wasn't robbed, she and other residents are very concerned after hearing that nine people have been attacked in this section of Park Slope in the last six weeks alone, bringing the total number of attacks in the area to 16 since January.

John O'Reilly, Park Slope Resident: "It's very disconcerting and I think people just have to be vigilant, keep an eye out."

All of the attacks happened when groups of five to eight teens gathered around a solo victim, in many cases the victims were also teens who would be robbed of their cell phones but that hasn't always been the case. The most recent victim was a 53-year-old man.

The attacks started back on April 15th inside the park at 5th Street and Prospect Park West. Three days later, two blocks away there was another attack. Ten days after that, right along busy Prospect Park West, yet another victim. And on, and on.

So far all of the attacks have occurred along the northwest border of Prospect Park from 3rd to 16th streets, both inside the park and along the roadway.

Mary Horn, Park Slope Resident: "It concerns me. Anything like that, of that nature, does concern me."

Residents tell Eyewitness News the gangs of kids often gather around 100 feet from Prospect Park West's 5th Street entrance. They tell us it's here the kids drink beer and do drugs.

Police have made some arrests since the attacks began but they're concerned that the arrests haven't seemed to slow down the crime spree.

Park users say more beat patrols are needed.

Sara Fendelman, Park Slope Resident: "I always see police cars around, not a lot of police just walking around. Maybe that would be helpful."

The NYPD says residents here shouldn't be too concerned. They say while the number is fairly high at first glance, they say the number of robberies in this area has not changed from one year ago.

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