Man targeting elderly women in violent robbery spree: NYPD

A serial robber has been targeting elderly women across two boroughs — following most of his victims to their homes in broad daylight before threatening them with violence, police said.

The first suspected robbery was reported on Jan. 20 at about 5 p.m. near Myrtle Avenue and Weirfield Street in Queens. According to authorities, the suspect, followed a 76-year-old woman to her home, and as she reached the door, the man put his hands over her mouth and pushed her inside. He then demanded money at knifepoint and pointed a firearm at a 87-year-old man, demanding more money. The suspect fled with approximately $800.

On February 11, at about 2:30 p.m, around Prospect Place and 6th Avenue in Brooklyn, the same man is suspected of following a 71-year-old woman into her residence, where he attempted to tie her up. He also had a gun, and struck her on the left side of the lip, causing a laceration. The suspect then took about $375 and fled on foot east on Prospect Place.

The same alleged robber then targeted a 91-year-old victim as she entered a location on 9th Street near Prospect Park West, also in Brooklyn. He approached her from behind, placed her in chokehold and displayed a gun, police said. After he pushed her inside the location’s vestibule, he demanded her money. As the suspect took the victim’s money, a 50-year-old man came across them, and the suspect then pointed his gun at the man and took his money, police said. The suspect then got away with about $370.

On March 19, at about 5:15 p.m., near Prospect Place and Carlton Avenue, in Brooklyn, the suspect followed a 43-year-old man into his residence and demanded money, according to authorities. The suspect then saw an 81-year-old woman and approached her at gunpoint and, with a boxcutter in his other hand, demanded money. The suspect fled on foot with approximately $330.

In his latest crime, the suspect is believed to have robbed an 83-year-old woman on Saturday near Ocean Parkway and Beverly Road in Brooklyn at about 4:40 p.m. He allegedly followed the victim into her building, and once she was inside of her apartment the suspect knocked on her door. After she opened the door, the suspect hit her in the face with a hard object, but did not remove any items from her home. He then fled the building in an unknown direction.

Police have released several photos from the incidents and describe the suspect as a black male black, 40 to 60 years old, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and about 250 pounds.

Anyone with information in regards to these robberies 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 or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.