NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Police have linked a suspect to at least three violent robberies this summer in which victims were choked into unconsciousness and robbed of their Rolex watches.
The NYPD released surveillance images Wednesday of the man they’re searching for in the months-long robbery pattern.
The three victims—all men in their 20s who were wearing luxury watches—were attacked from behind as they walked in the neighborhood in the early morning hours.
In each robbery, the thief placed the victim in a chokehold until he lost consciousness and then stole his watch, the NYPD said.
The most recent robbery was on Aug. 9, when a 26-year-old man was choked out around 1 a.m. at the 14th Street subway station on the 1 line. He was hospitalized in stable condition at New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. Police said his stolen watch was worth $14,000.
About a month before that robbery, around 2:40 a.m. on July 14, a 27-year-old man was choked until he lost consciousness at 42 Morton St., according to police. He suffered minor injuries but declined transport to a hospital.
The first reported robbery was June 15, when a 29-year-old man was throttled into unconsciousness around 3:30 a.m. at 147 Christopher St. His condition was unclear, but police said he didn't require hospitalization.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.