POLICE BEAT

NYPD looks to ID Bx robbery suspect

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The New York Police Department is asking for the public’s help in pinpointing the location of a man who has been robbing women’s property in the Bronx. The man is suspected of stealing from at least four different women within the past two weeks.

The first incident was reported to police on Thursday, April 6 at around 11:30 p.m within the 52nd Precinct. The victim, a 20-year old woman, was walking into 2721 Heath Avenue when the suspected robber approached and pulled on her book bag.

The robber displayed a knife and took the bag by force, escaping southbound on Heath Avenue on a moped.

The victim was not injured but the book bag stolen contained her personal ID, a credit card, a bank card, a Samsung phone charger valued at $25, and a JBL speaker valued at $80.

The second incident took place on Sunday, April 9, and was reported at approximately 9:10 p.m. by a 61-year-old woman. She was walking in front of 3823 Sedgwick Ave. within the 50th Precinct when a man approached and forcibly removed her purse.

The robber escaped again on a moped alongside the victim’s purse. The victim was not injured but the purse contained her personal ID, car keys, a bank card, and $122 in cash. The bank card is noteworthy because the robber was caught on surveillance footage attempting to use it only a few minutes later.

Surveillance footage shows at approximately 9:30 p.m. the man was inside 85 West Fordham Road, attempting to make an unauthorized transaction with the stolen bank card.

The third incident was on Monday, April 10, and also took place in the 50th Precinct. A 24-year-old woman was waiting for an Uber in front of 510 Kappock St. when the man approached her on his moped.

The man displayed a knife and forcibly removed her purse. He fled on his moped northbound on Kappock Street. The victim was not injured but her purse contained her personal ID, car keys, and $240 in cash.

The fourth incident was reported to the police by a 53-year-old woman on Friday, April 14 at around 10:45 p.m. within the 50th Precinct. The victim was walking in front of 3660 Oxford Ave. when the robber approached her from the side.

The robber attempted to remove the purse from the victim’s arm and there was a physical struggle over it. The man knocked the victim to the ground and dragged her as he removed the purse.

The robber escaped riding on his moped heading southbound on Oxford Street. The victim received a laceration to her right arm, but dismissed further medical attention. The property inside the victim’s purse was her personal ID, car keys, and $100 in cash.

During the Community Board 8 meeting on Wednesday, April 19, Lt. Timothy Haney of the 50th Precinct said he has his public safety teams, NCO officers, and the “whole precinct essentially” trying to apprehend the robber.

Because of these robbery patterns, the NYPD is asking for help on any leads regarding the suspect.

“The individual being sought is described as male approximately 25 years old, 5 foot, 8 tall, 140 pounds, with a dark complexion and a thin build,” Haney said. “The individual is usually wearing a red delivery bag on his back and riding on a red moped.”

Anyone with information regarding the robbery pattern is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-8477.

Those with information also can submit tips onto the Crime Stoppers website at CrimeStoppers.nypdonline.org, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

police, 50th Precinct, robbery, 52nd Precinct, Lt. Timothy Haney