The Nassau County Police Department arrested three teens near the Great Neck Plaza train station on Saturday, April 30 at 9:30 p.m. for allegedly mugging two teenage males in a robbery that netted $11.
Young Jae Kim, 18, of Great Neck Plaza, Joel Monroy, 18, of Great Neck Plaza and Yannick Reboh, 16, of Mill Neck, were each charged with two counts of robbery in the second degree and two counts of attempted robbery in the second degree. They face up to 15 years in prison on the felony charges.
The victims, ages 15 and 16, were walking in a parking lot on Grace Avenue and Park Place when the defendants allegedly demanded all their money, police said.
“You’re getting robbed, empty your pockets,” the defendants said, according to detectives.
The 16-year-old victim stepped away from the defendants and was allegedly pushed to the ground, causing him to suffer an abrasion and a contusion to his right arm and abdomen. He then removed $11 from his pocket and handed it to the defendants.
After the second victim showed the defendants he had no money, they fled north on Bond Street.
After the 911 dispatch call went out at 10:37 p.m., police were on the scene in four minutes, said Nassau County Police Department officer Eloise Abdullah.
A notification was broadcast and all three alleged robbers were located a short time later across the street from the Great Neck Plaza train station and placed under arrest.
The injured 16-year-old victim’s parents refused medical treatment for their son.
It is an unfortunate situation, said Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender.
“It is not something that we are happy to hear about,” she said. “We do live in a very low-crime area, thankfully. People have to be mindful that you can be a victim of opportunity. I guess those kids crossed a lot where they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am glad the Nassau County Police Department was able to assist. “
The defendants were arraigned on May 1 at First District Court in Hempstead.
