Cops are looking for a man who robbed two people just hours apart from each other on the streets of Astoria.
According to police, at 8:50 p.m. on Dec. 11, a 24-year-old man was walking on 23rd Street when an unknown man grabbed him from behind by the neck and demanded his property. The suspect then forcibly removed the victim’s cellphone and wallet, which contained $1,100, before fleeing, police said.
The next day, on Dec. 12, a 20-year-old man was walking in the vicinity of 30th Avenue and 23rd Street at 3:15 a.m. when the suspect grabbed him from behind by the neck and demanded his property, according to authorities. The suspect then forcibly removed the victim’s cellphone before fleeing the scene.
EMS responded to each incident, however police said the victims refused medical attention at the scene.
The suspect is described by police as a black man aged 20 to 30 years old, standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 240 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie and blue pants.
Anyone with information in regard 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 are strictly confidential.
