The child was shoved and robbed on White Plains Road in Allerton on Jan. 2, police said.
BRONX, NY — New York City police are searching for two men who, officers say, shoved a 10-year-old boy and took his hat and about $45 around 4:15 p.m. Jan. 2 in front of 2500 White Plains Road in the Allerton section of the Bronx.
Detectives from the 49th Precinct released images of the suspects and asked for tips as they review surveillance footage along White Plains Road. The case has drawn attention because the victim is a child and because it happened in daylight on a busy commercial strip. Police said the boy was not physically hurt. The search comes as city crime data show robberies in Allerton have risen compared with this time last year, heightening concern among families and shopkeepers who use the corridor each afternoon.
According to police, the boy was standing near storefronts when two men approached him from behind shortly after school-hours traffic began to pick up. Investigators said the pair shoved him, grabbed his hat and cash, then ran north on White Plains Road. In a brief statement, the department said the men “shoved the child and forcibly removed his hat and approximately $45” before fleeing on foot. Uniformed officers canvassed the block and nearby side streets within minutes of the report while detectives spoke with merchants who have exterior cameras facing the sidewalk. The child declined medical attention at the scene, police said.
Authorities described one suspect as wearing a black sweater with the word “scream” and dark-colored pants. The second was dressed in all black, including a jacket, sweater, pants and sneakers, according to the department. The incident occurred in front of 2500 White Plains Road, a stretch lined with small groceries, salons and takeout spots, a few blocks from the Allerton Avenue station on the No. 2 line. Detectives said the men were last seen running northbound on the corridor. No arrests have been announced, and investigators did not release ages or additional physical descriptions. It was not immediately known whether the two men spoke to the child or displayed any weapon.
The precinct that includes Allerton, Pelham Parkway and Morris Park has recorded more robberies in recent weeks compared with the same period a year earlier, according to city figures, though overall numbers fluctuate week to week. Residents told officers that after-school hours bring heavier foot traffic as students and commuters pass between White Plains Road shops and bus stops. Police commanders have previously shifted patrols along the corridor during similar spikes, using neighborhood coordination officers to check in with business owners who often share camera footage and descriptions that help identify suspects across multiple cases.
Detectives said they are collecting and reviewing video from storefront security systems and city cameras, a standard step before releasing clearer stills or additional footage. The case file is being handled by the 49th Precinct detective squad. Investigators typically compile a timeline, confirm the route the suspects took after the robbery and look for patterns that match other incidents nearby. If new images or updates are developed, the department said they will be shared publicly. Police did not say when a further briefing might occur. As of Friday, no charges had been filed.
White Plains Road was busy with late-day shoppers as officers moved between the corner delis and discount stores after the report. A few shopkeepers pointed to cameras mounted over awnings as detectives requested copies of video. “The description we have is a black sweater with the word ‘scream’ and one suspect dressed in all black,” the department said, noting that the boy was not injured. Parents walking past the address Friday afternoon paused at the doorway where the encounter began, while patrol cars idled on the curb as officers checked the block.
As of this update, the search for the two men continues. Detectives are canvassing the corridor north of Allerton Avenue and reviewing new video pulled from nearby businesses; any further images or an arrest announcement would be expected in the coming days if leads develop.
Author note: Last updated January 9, 2026.