Man wanted in string of violent robberies of elderly men in the Bronx
BRONX (WABC) -- Police in the Bronx are searching for the man wanted for violently robbing several elderly men and the oldest victim is speaking out.
There were at least seven incidents reported to police starting back in May with the most recent happening last Wednesday. Police released video of the most recent incident.
The victims range in age from 66 to 90 and police say the suspect has taken a total of roughly $3,200 from them.
The first incident happened on Monday, May 3, at 5:25 p.m. inside a building near Holland and Brady avenues.
A 79-year-old man was entering his apartment when the robber approached him from behind and put a knife at his throat.
Police say he demanded the victim's money, and then took $3,000 in cash from his pockets before running off. The victim was not injured.
Then a few months later on September 8, the NYPD says he struck again. The attacker was inside a building near Webb Avenue and West 197th Street around 9 p.m.
He approached a 76-year-old man from behind as the victim was walking up the stairs and slammed him against the wall. He took $40 in cash from the victim before getting away. The victim suffered a minor head injury but refused medical attention.
On Sunday, September 12, at 7:40 p.m., the victim, a 78-year-old man, was in front of his building near Barker Avenue and Thwaites Place when he was approached from behind and pushed to the ground. The robber took $20 in cash from him. The victim suffered cuts to his arms.
Four days later on Thursday, September 16, at 1:20 a.m. he allegedly pushed a 68-year-old man to the ground as he was walking near Grand Avenue and West 190th Street.
Once on the ground, the robber took the victim's wallet and ran off northbound on Evergreen Avenue toward East 172nd Street. The victim suffered bruising to his face.
Next, police say he pushed a 72-year-old man to the ground, pulled out a knife, and stole the victim's wallet on Friday, September 17, at 3:03 p.m. near Grand Avenue and West 190th Street.
The victim suffered a minor injury to his hands and mouth but refused medical attention.
The next day on Saturday, September 18, a 66-year-old man was pushed to the ground at knifepoint and robbed of his cellphone and wallet. It happened at 8 p.m. at the corner of 3rd Avenue and East 149th Street. The victim suffered minor injuries.
On Wednesday, September 22 at 5:10 p.m., the robber was inside an apartment building on Cruger Avenue and Pelham Parkway South when he victimized 90-year-old John Valenti as he walked inside.
Valenti was approached from and the suspect took his cellphone and wallet containing $150 in cash without the victim knowing. The elderly man was not hurt.
"I didn't know what the hell was going on until he took the money out and I realized he had taken my money, I ran after him, as you can see I can't run really fast," Valenti said.
Valenti said he now takes a different route while walking in his neighborhood. He was born and raised in New York and isn't too fazed by the crime.
"He was just after the money, I'm glad he just took it and left me alone," Valenti said.
The robber is described as a man in his 20s, with a medium complexion and medium build. He was last seen wearing a red New York Yankees baseball cap, a white polo shirt, black pants, a white surgical mask, and dark-colored New Balance sneakers.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
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