Police need help from the public in finding a man caught on video who’s wanted for a series of knifepoint robberies on the streets of Corona and Elmhurst.
According to law enforcement sources, the most recent robbery took place at 2:25 a.m. on Oct. 28 near 98th Street and Corona Avenue.
Authorities said the thief approached a 20-year-old man from behind and held a knife to his throat as he forcibly removed the victim’s wallet which contained $600. The assailant then cut the victim on the neck during the struggle for the wallet before fleeing east bound on Corona Avenue by foot, according to police.
Paramedics brought the victim to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment of minor lacerations, and he was later released.
The other three robberies all occurred between 11 p.m. and midnight on Oct. 24, cops said.
At around 11 p.m. in front of a home on 40th Drive near 94th Street, authorities said, the bandit approached a 50-year-old woman from behind and held a knife to her throat. He then forcibly removed her purse, which contained $1,600 in valuables, and fled on foot northbound on 94th Street toward Roosevelt Avenue.
Then, at 11:32 p.m., the crook approached a 41-year-old from behind in front of a business on 104th Street between 45th and 46th Avenues. Police said he showed the woman a knife, then forcibly removed her $500 cellphone and slashed her upper arm and hand. The crook then took off on foot eastbound on 47th Avenue.
Finally, at 11:40 p.m. near the corner of 45th Avenue and 108th Street, a 21-year-old woman was approached from behind by the suspect. Law enforcement sources said he threatened with a knife and told to hand over her purse containing $400 to her unknown assailant before he headed northbound on 108th Street, according to police.
Both women suffered minor injuries and were taken by paramedics to Elmhurst Hospital. All of the robberies were reported to the 110th Precinct.
On Oct. 30, police released security camera footage of the suspected robber near the 40th Drive location, who’s described as a Hispanic man between 20 and 30 years of age who was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website , on Twitter @NYPDTips or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
