Robbers on the G Train

From this week's edition of the Greenpoint Star:
http://www.greenpointstar.com/StoryDisplay.asp?PID=3&NewsStoryID=6364

Dateline : Thursday, August 23, 2007
Thugs Preying On G-Train Riders
By Phil Guie

For a pair of violent thugs, the G-train, useful for traveling between Brooklyn and Queens without having to pass through Manhattan, has also proven to be an efficient place to locate victims to rob.According to police, 23-year-old Benjamin Hedges and his accomplice, 18-year-old Jeffrey Pierre-Louis, are suspected of approaching fellow riders on separate occasions last month, pouncing on them, physically assaulting them, and removing their money and personal property.

So far, cops have reported two known attacks involving the suspects: the first occurred at 9:45 p.m. on July 21 in the Classon Avenue station; the second took place at 12:15 a.m. on July 24 in the Myrtle-Willoughby Avenue station.

News of the assaults raised concern among some G-train riders, who said trains are sometimes empty late at night. "There are a few times when it gets kind of sketchy, especially after 2 [a.m.]," said Christine Asuncion, who hops on at the Metropolitan Avenue station and rides home to the Bedford/Nostrand stop nearly every night.

Although one of the robberies took place on a Saturday evening, Asuncion said she feels safe riding the G as late as 1 a.m. on weekends, when there are often crowds.

Meanwhile, Greenpoint resident Lisa O'Neill, who often takes the Queens-bound G as late as 1 a.m., said the line definitely has more security now than in years past. "It's a lot better than it was," she said. "There used to not be cops on it, but now there is."

As of press time, cops have offered the following descriptions of the suspects: Hedges is said to be approximately 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds, thinly built with brown eyes and black hair; Pierre-Louis is described as standing roughly 5'9" tall, weighing 185 pounds with a medium build. He has black eyes and black hair. [PHOTOS BELOW]

Anyone with information that could lead to the pair's arrests is asked to call Crimestoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:
(LEFT) Jeffrey Pierre-Louis
(RIGHT) Benjamin Hedges