NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Police on Friday released a video of a man they are searching for who is wanted in over a dozen robberies at knifepoint across Manhattan that have occurred over the past month.
According to officials, the knife-wielding suspect often held the blade to the victim's neck or back in the string of at least 15 robberies that began on Oct. 9 with the most recent incident happening on Nov. 1.
The suspect entered the lobby of a Chase Bank 60 East 42nd Street in Midtown at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday, October 9, and grabbed a 27-year-old victim from behind, displayed a knife, and demanded money, authorities said.
He then forcibly removed $150 from the victim's wallet before fleeing westbound on 42nd Street.
The victim sustained injuries to her arm and refused medical attention.
Just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 10, the unknown man entered the Liberty Smoke Shop located at 690 10th Avenue in Hell's Kitchen and went behind the register where he held a 48-year-old male at knifepoint while demanding money from the register, the NYPD said.
The suspect then proceeded to strike the victim in the face multiple times with a closed fist before and swiped $580 from the register before fleeing in an unknown direction, police said.
The victim sustained injuries to his face and refused medical attention.
The third incident happened at approximately 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 24, when the suspect approached a 71-year-old man in front of 60 West 12th Street in Greenwich Village, displayed a knife, and demanded cash, officials said.
After the victim did not comply, the suspect fled eastbound on West 12th Street.
On Monday, October 25, at approximately 4:45 a.m., police said the suspect approached a 50-year-old man opposite 229 West 43rd Street in Midtown, placed a knife to the back of his neck, and demanded money.
The victim gave up $40 before the suspect fled westbound on West 43rd Street, officials said.
According to the NYPD, incident number 13 occurred on Sunday, October 31, just before 8 a.m. when the suspect entered a Dunkin Donuts located at 244 Madison Avenue in Midtown and approached a 46-year-old woman, displayed a knife, and demanded money.
The suspect removed $1,200 from the register before fleeing northbound on Madison Avenue.
Incident 15 happened at approximately 9:45 a.m. on Monday, November 1, when the suspect approached a 63-year-old man inside of Peoples Place Gourmet Deli located at 1391 2nd Avenue on the Upper East Side, authorities said.
Officials said the suspect displayed a knife and demanded money and removed $600 from the register before fleeing northbound on 2nd Avenue.
Police describe the suspect as a dark-skinned-male approximately 20-30 years of age, 5'8" tall, and 140-160lbs.
The NYPD on Friday released images of the suspect.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
