NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A man was indicted on hate crime charges for a string of robberies on the Upper East Side targeting New Yorkers aged 70 and older, prosecutors said.
Gary Sanders, 56, was indicted for stealing watches from three older New Yorkers in separate age-based hate crimes, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.
Sanders is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with two counts of robbery in the second degree as a hate crime and one count each of robbery in the as a hate crime and false personation.
"As alleged, Gary Sanders purposefully targeted three older New Yorkers in age-based robberies, injuring two in the course of the attacks," Bragg said. "Taking advantage of vulnerable, older New Yorkers is unacceptable and we will continue to hold those accountable who cause them harm."
According to court documents, the first theft happened on Aug. 5, when Sanders allegedly followed a 74-year-old woman as she was walking near East 83rd Street and Park Avenue. He approached the woman and pulled her watch off her left wrist, prosecutors said.
On Aug.24, at around 6:30 p.m., Sanders allegedly followed an 81-year-old man as he was walking near East 68th Street and 3rd Avenue. He then approached the man and pulled his watch off his left wrist, causing swelling, bruising and pain, prosecutors said.
On Aug. 31, Sanders followed an 80-year-old woman as she was walking near East 75th Street and Park Avenue. He then allegedly approached the woman and pulled her watch off her left wrist, causing swelling and bruising.
Sanders was arrested on Sept. 7. While under arrest, he allegedly attempted to prevent police officers from accurately identifying him by giving them false personal information.
