Five teens beat and robbed a 15-year-old boy in the lobby of his Queens apartment building on Wednesday, taking his New Balance sneakers, cops and the victim’s family said.
Emmanuel Villa told police he had just grabbed groceries and was heading home for dinner when one of the crooks shoved him into the lobby of his 84th St. building near 35th Ave. in Jackson Heights around 4:20 p.m.
The thieves repeatedly punched and kicked the victim, before nabbing his sneakers and fleeing, cops said.
The victim’s mother said the crooks all wore balaclava masks and attacked her son from behind.
One of them rushed up behind and pushed him and the rest of them came into the lobby,” said 46-year-old Joanne Restrepo. “They threw him to the ground and started beating him.”
A friend who was walking with the victim fled into the building and pounded on Restrepo’s door, leading the victim’s 18-year-old sister to tear out of her apartment and chase the thieves barefoot, the victim’s mother said.
“My daughter went out and chased them but she was barefoot and they got away,” said Restrepo.
“I’m still a nervous wreck. I know God is with him, but I’m still worried.”
The teen victim said the crooks stole his sneakers, which cost his mother about $170, because it was the only thing of value he had on him.
“I guessed they wanted to steal something that was worth money,” said Villa. “All I had was my tennis shoes.”
The youngster suffered minor injuries to his head, back and arm, but refused medical attention, his mother said.
No arrests were made.