Law enforcement officials in New York City say they have dismantled a robbery ring affiliated with the Latin-American street gang known as the Trinitarios. The group allegedly carried out seven armed jewellery robberies in just two weeks across the Bronx — targeting victims wearing gold chains, watches and rings. Among those charged is a 16-year-old boy, along with three men in their 20s, with a fifth suspect still at large.
Armed Targeting of Jewellery-Wearing Victims
Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 6, authorities say the crew focused on individuals visibly wearing high-end jewellery in neighbourhoods across the Bronx. Cars stopped, victims confronted — often at gunpoint — and items forcibly taken. Prosecutors noted the gang used mopeds for quick get-aways and met at local motels to divide their spoils. In one harrowing incident, an older victim was so traumatised by the armed robbery that he relocated away from the borough.
Arrests, Charges and Gang Links
The charges announced include robbery, grand larceny and conspiracy. One defendant also faces firearms-possession charges. The suspects — a 20-year-old man from the Bronx, a 29-year-old Bronx resident, a 20-year-old from Newark and the unnamed 16-year-old — are accused of being part of a subset of the Trinitarios gang commonly referred to as “BB7”. The teen, held on $100,000 bail, is also separately charged in an earlier armed robbery in which he allegedly threatened a man with a gun before snatching jewellery.
Authorities Warn: Guns Make Robberies Deadlier
While none of the robberies resulted in a shooting, district attorney officials emphasised the elevated risk when firearms are used in street crime. “As long as there is a gun in the criminal’s hand, there is a risk that it’s going to be used,” said the office. The sweep comes amidst ongoing efforts to curb gun-violence and gang-related robberies in the city.
