Police have issued an alert about a male suspect wanted for committing three robberies last month, each time targeting elderly individuals for their expensive watches. The NYPD is hoping someone will reach out with more information about the suspect’s identity and location.
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The first incident took place on Monday, August 5 at about noon, when the suspect targeted a 74-year-old woman walking down East 83rd Street between Park and Madison avenues. The man approached her from behind, police say, and “forcefully removed her watch from her left arm after a brief struggle.” The watch, a Rolex, was valued at $7,000.
On Saturday, August 24 at about 6:30 p.m., the same suspect reportedly approached an 81-year-old man on the corner of 68th and Third Avenue. He again approached his victim from behind and forcibly removed the watch–this time, a $25,000 Omega–before fleeing by foot.
The last reported incident happened on Saturday, August 31 at about 1 p.m., when the thief went after an 80-year-old woman on 75th and Park Avenue and snatched her Ebel 18-karat gold watch, worth $20,000.
All three victims refused medical attention at the scene.
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Police describe the suspect as a “male with a dark complexion, approximately 40 to 50 years of age, 5’9” in height, 155 pounds, and of slim build,” adding that “He was last seen wearing a blue long-sleeve shirt with white lettering on the front, light-colored jeans, white sneakers, a dark-colored NY Yankees cap, and a blue face mask under his chin.”
Anyone with relevant information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website or by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips on Twitter. All calls are strictly confidential.
But… I thought NYC was so safe. After all, there are cameras everywhere and no one is allowed to carry a weapon. So thoroughly mystifying.
Mask again.