A brazen crook is behind a series of violent gun-point robberies that swept Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay last month, according to the New York Police Department.
Police believe that the perp, described as a black man in his early 20s, 5’5” to 5’10” tall with a slim build, is responsible for five early morning and late-night robberies targeting women in the confines of the 60th and 61st Precincts.
In the first robbery, the suspect approached a 20-year-old woman who was standing near the intersection of Parkway Court and Hubbard Street on Tuesday, July 11, at around 11:00 p.m. He then proceeded to punch her in the face and take her cell phone before fleeing. The victim suffered facial fractures and was taken to Maimonides Medical Center for treatment.
In a second robbery on Saturday, July 15, at around 12:45 a.m., the suspect approached a 21-year-old woman from behind as she walked home, near the intersection of East First Street and Avenue Y. He then displayed a gun, and demanded the victim’s property, which consisted of a cellphone and bag containing $150 in cash, headphones and credit cards. The victim handed over the property and the suspect fled southbound on East 1st Street.
The crook struck again on Sunday, July 16, at around 7:45 a.m., on West Second Street between Avenues X and Y. After approaching a 63-year-old woman from behind, he displayed a gun and demanded the victim’s bag, which contained $18, a cellphone and personal papers.
In a fourth incident, the suspect followed a 26-year-old woman as she walked home near Avenue Z and East 26th Street at around 1:50 a.m. on Tuesday, July 18. When the woman realized she was being followed, she attempted to run away, but the perp chased her down, displayed a gun and punched her in the face multiple times. As the victim fell to the ground, the suspect took her bag, which held a cellphone, personal papers and electronics.
In the latest robbery, the suspect followed a 22-year-old woman home on Saturday, July 22, at around 12:45 a.m. Realizing that she was being followed, the victim turned around to face the suspect on West Third Street between Avenues X and Y, at which time the perp tackled her to the ground, removed her bag, slapped her on the buttocks and fled. The victim’s bag contained a cellphone, debit card and over $700 in cash
During the final robbery, the suspect was seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt with dark markings on the upper sleeve and shoulders, sweatpants and black sneakers. He uses a bandanna, ski mask, du-rag or towel to cover his face.
“The actions of this individual, robbing and violently assaulting multiple women in Gravesend, are reprehensible. This is a very serious situation, being met with a very serious response from the NYPD. There are multiple detectives assigned to this case, and local officers have been going door-to-door, canvassing the neighborhood,” said 47th District Councilmember Mark Treyger. “I commend their efforts to keep our community safe, and encourage anyone with information to contact the NYPD.”
Anyone with information in regards 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). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.