Photo Courtesy of NYPD
The man has robbed three victims in the Forest Hills-Rego Park area since January.
By Michael V. Cusenza
City Police Department investigators last week released security video footage that shows a fleeing car that they believe belongs to a suspect responsible for a recent series of brutal muggings in Rego Park and Forest Hills.
According to a New York Daily News report, the video shows a dark-blue sedan – possibly a Mercury Grand Marquis – speeding east on Harrow Street in Forest Hills around 5:45 p.m. on Feb. 28.
The date and time are crucial because, according to police reports, on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at approximately 5:45 p.m., the suspect stepped out of the driver’s side of a blue, four-door sedan on Harrow Street, approached a 53-year-old woman from behind and hit her on the head with a blunt object; the victim fell to the ground unconscious. When she awoke, the victim realized that her purse was gone. Among the items inside her purse were four debit cards, two credit cards, and approximately $51 in cash. The woman suffered lacerations to the back of her head and was removed to Forest Hills Hospital in serious but stable condition.
According to authorities, the suspect committed that robbery shortly before the vehicle comes into focus on the surveillance footage.
Investigators believe the man is also responsible for the following attacks:
On Wednesday, Feb. 8, around 5:50 p.m., the suspect approached an 82-year-old woman from behind on 70th Road in Forest Hills, hit her on the head with a blunt object and knocked her to the ground. He then grabbed her purse and fled in an unknown direction. Among the items inside her purse were two debit cards and a credit card. The victim suffered lacerations to the back of her head and was removed to Forest Hills Hospital in serious but stable condition, cops said.
And in the first reported incident, on Wednesday, Jan. 18, around 8:20 p.m., a 63-year-old woman was approached by the suspect at the corner of 65th Avenue and 99 Street in Rego Park. The unidentified male displayed a knife, punched the victim in the face and removed her purse containing an iPhone and credit card. The suspect then fled on foot toward 102nd Street. The woman suffered bruising to the face and refused medical attention.
The suspect is described as a black man, 6-feet tall with a medium build, last seen wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, (888) 57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit info by logging onto NYPDCrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All correspondences are strictly confidential.
