NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Police are searching for a man accused of violently ripping purses from women on Manhattan's Lower East Side last month, authorities said Thursday.
The first incident happened at approximately 2:49 p.m. on Monday, April 22, when a 58-year-old woman was entering her building in the vicinity of Henry Street and Pike Street.
According to officials, the suspect followed the woman inside the building and took her purse containing various personal items then fled east on Henry Street to parts unknown.
The victim was not injured.
At about 10:20 on Tuesday, April 23, a 74-year-old woman was crossing the street at the intersection of Grand Street and Essex Street when the suspect approached her from behind and forcibly grabbed her purse, knocking her to the ground and causing a minor cut to the victim's head.
The suspect then fled on foot towards Broome Street.
The victim was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in stable condition.
Anyone with information in regard to these incidents is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
