[tazjin]

There's no way it's this simple. Looking at a map of NYC, it seems that this must be a fairly major bridge (southernmost connection from the Bronx to Manhattan) for all kinds of traffic. I'd expect plenty of average people not involved in delivery gangs (??) to cross there, too, and have issues with the roving bandits.

If this is a known crime hotspot, shouldn't police just be hanging out there?

[pydry]

Is it that hard to believe given the events from the last couple of years that the police arent all that interested in protecting these people?

American police also stole $2.5 bn in cash and killed 1,100 people in 2020.

[tazjin]

My point is that there must be people who aren't involved in criminal gangs or deliveries crossing this bridge, too, so there should be a general interest in keeping it safe.

[brundolf]

It seemed like these were targeted attacks- specific time window, specific target group. Most people crossing won't have something worth thousands of dollars on them, which can conveniently act as its own getaway vehicle, and which can then be fenced through what sounded like an established pipeline for this particular item

[nerdponx]

Relatively few "regular" people walk across that bridge. It's mostly car traffic. And it connects two areas that have been historically "rough".