A young woman who followed a 74-year-old woman into her apartment building beat the older woman over the head with a water bottle before robbing her, police said.
The suspect, who police say is in her 20s, followed the elderly victim into her apartment building on East 119th Street Wednesday at about 2 p.m. as she was getting her mail, according to the NYPD.
The suspect asked the victim if her super was around, then started hitting her on the head with the water bottle, police said.
“She’s looking around, there’s nobody there and she kept pounding me with the water bottle,” said the victim, who did not want to be identified.
Surveillance video shows the suspect look around, appearing to make sure the coast is clear, before continuing the attack. The suspect can be seen slamming the elderly woman into the wall, wrestling her to get to her purse.
The attack lasts for several seconds before the suspect moves away. As the victim tries to escape, the suspect follows, grabbing her from behind and placing her into a headlock before hitting her once more with the water bottle.
The suspect, unable to get to the wallet pushes the victim to the floor and continues to pummel her with the water bottle until the victim finally gives her the wallet.
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“She kicked me in the thigh, I lost my balance,” the victim said. “I said, ‘OK, don’t hit me. I’ll give you my wallet.’”
The suspect can be seen on video hurrying away, water bottle still in hand. The victim tried to follow her, but couldn’t keep up. The suspect took $28, and threw the wallet out onto the street, police said.
“[I] hope somebody will recognize her and call 911,” she said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
