Shocking moment two robbers steal a 55-year-old man’s $35,000 Cartier in New York City

Brazen thieves swiped a pricey Cartier watch from a man’s wrist in Manhattan after they acted like they had a gun and chased him down.

Video footage released by the NYPD captured the August 29 incident in which the suspects made off with the $35,000 timepiece in Chelsea.

The victim was approached by the two suspects, one of whom lifted his shirt and acted as if he had a weapon in his waistband.

‘What’s up with the watch?’ one of the robbers is said to have asked the victim of his Cartier watch.

When the victim attempted to flee, the suspects chased him to West 24th Street and Ninth Avenue where video footage shows them pulling him to the ground and yanking the watch from his wrist. 

It is not known if the suspect actually had a gun. No arrests have been made.

Video footage recently released by the NYPD captured the August 29 incident in which the suspects made off with the $35,000 Cartier watch in Chelsea, Manhattan 

The victim attempted to flee and the suspects chased him to West 24th Street and Ninth Avenue where they pull him to the ground and yank the Cartier watch from his wrist

The victim attempted to flee and the suspects chased him to West 24th Street and Ninth Avenue where they pull him to the ground and yank the Cartier watch from his wrist

Police are trying to identify and nab the suspects who were caught on camera robbing the victim around 10 p.m. in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

Leading up to the robbery on the New York City sidewalk, the victim was spotted with two other people who fled as the robbers approached. 

One of the robbers asked the victim about his watch before trying to snatch it, the New York Post reported.  

Leading up to the robbery on the New York City sidewalk, the victim was spotted with two other people who fled as the robbers approached

Leading up to the robbery on the New York City sidewalk, the victim was spotted with two other people who fled as the robbers approached

One of the robbers asked the victim about his watch before trying to snatch it

One of the robbers asked the victim about his watch before trying to snatch it

The robbers are seen on video trying to grab the victim who pulls from their grip and flees

The robbers are seen on video trying to grab the victim who pulls from their grip and flees

The robbers are seen on video trying to grab the victim who pulls from their grip and flees to the intersection where he’s knocked to the ground. 

The victim, who has not been identified, did not suffer any injuries.

The duo then fled the scene in a black sedan last seen traveling southbound on Ninth Avenue. 

The incident happened as new data revealed that more than 40,000 New Yorkers have migrated to Florida due to soaring crime, eye-watering taxes, and cost of living skyrocketing.

The victim runs to the intersection of West 24th Street and Ninth Avenue where video footage shows them pulling him to the ground and yanking the watch from his wrist

The victim runs to the intersection of West 24th Street and Ninth Avenue where video footage shows them pulling him to the ground and yanking the watch from his wrist

There was a struggle between the due and the victim, who did not suffer any injuries

There was a struggle between the due and the victim, who did not suffer any injuries

One of the robbers dragged the victim to the ground while trying to swipe his watch

One of the robbers dragged the victim to the ground while trying to swipe his watch

The robber is seen yanking the pricey watch from the victim's wrist while he's on the ground

The robber is seen yanking the pricey watch from the victim’s wrist while he’s on the ground

The highest number of monthly New Yorkers switching to the Sunshine State was recorded in August, with 5,838 trading in their Empire State licenses, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data, obtained by DailyMail.com.

New Yorkers have experienced a high number of crimes over the past few years since the onset of the pandemic.

Overall crime is up 34 percent, finally starting to come down in the past few months.

Felony assaults, rape, and robbery are all up 17, 10, and 38 percent, respectively.

Transit crime alone are up 45 percent and city-goers have experienced shootings, stabbings, and robberies both on and off the platform.

Wealthy residents were the first to ditch the New York scene and now the middle class is migrating out of the state, according to Valley.

Overall crime is up 34 percent compared to the same time last year in the Big Apple

Overall crime is up 34 percent compared to the same time last year in the Big Apple

Throughout the first eight months of 2022, a total of 41,885 New York state residents have switched their primary residency. A total of 61,728 left in 2021

Throughout the first eight months of 2022, a total of 41,885 New York state residents have switched their primary residency. A total of 61,728 left in 2021 

The highest number of monthly New Yorkers switching to the Sunshine State was recorded in August, with 5,838 trading in their Empire State licenses. Throughout 2022, New Yorkers have been switching to Florida in droves bigger than 4,000 each month

The highest number of monthly New Yorkers switching to the Sunshine State was recorded in August, with 5,838 trading in their Empire State licenses. Throughout 2022, New Yorkers have been switching to Florida in droves bigger than 4,000 each month 

Retired NYPD Lieutenant John Macari, who moved to Florida last year, told the Post that many were moving around the time because of COVID-19 mandates and crime were the main reasons people left.

He also claimed ‘zero competence’ among NYC elected officials also pushed borough residents to ditch town because they didn’t ‘see a future in New York City for themselves.’

And the continuously flow of migration has even caught the eyes of NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who reportedly put up digital billboards around Florida to hopefully convince former residents to make a return. 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk