Man choked, robbed of $14K Rolex in Union Square subway station: source

UNION SQUARE, Manhattan (PIX11) --- A man was choked unconscious and robbed of his $14,000 Rolex in a Union Square subway station early Friday, according to police and sources.

The man, 26, was heading down the stairwell when he noticed another man following him into the L line subway station at 13th Street and Seventh Avenue at around 1:10 a.m., police said.

The victim told cops he believed he was choked out because when he woke up, his designer watch was missing, according to sources and police. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment.

There have been no arrests. A description of the suspect was not available.

The incident came hours after the NYPD announced it would be cracking down on crime in the East Village area and setting up a $1 million mobile command Center on East 14th Street.

Police said major subway crimes have dropped to a 15-year low this year, absent the pandemic years. Transit crime has decreased by about 20% this July compared to July 2023, according to the NYPD.

For the year, there continues to be a drop in subway incidents from the beginning of the year, police said.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).