Police released video footage of a man whom they say mugged two women on the streets of Elmhurst and Woodside earlier this month.
Law enforcement sources said the first incident took place at 1 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 15 in the vicinity of 40th Avenue and 94th Street in Elmhurst.
According to authorities, the bandit approached a 31-year-old woman standing in front of a residential building and shoved her. He then took the victim’s purse — which contained her cellphone and $600 in cash — off her shoulder and fled the scene on foot along 94th Street toward Roosevelt Avenue. The incident was reported to the 110th Precinct.
Later that day, police said, the crook struck again, this time in the vicinity of Woodside Avenue and 71st Street.
At around 9:15 p.m. on Sept 15, authorities said, the male suspect approached a 49-year-old woman from behind and grabbed her purse. The woman, however, became engaged in a physical struggle with the bandit, who proceeded to drag her on the ground.
When the woman’s father spotted the assault and went to intervene, police said, the perpetrator fled the scene empty handed. Officers from the 108th Precinct and EMS units responded to the incident; the woman was treated for bruises to her upper and lower torso.
Video from the Woodside robbery is shown below.
Police described the suspect as a male with a light complexion between 25 and 30 years of age, standing 5 foot 7 inches tall with a low haircut and facial hair. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt with white writing on the front, dark colored pants and light sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding the robber’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA), visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
