What to Know
- Police say the suspect struck four times in the last week
- In one case, he hit an employee in the head with a stapler when she refused to give him money
- Police released surveillance video of the suspect and ask anyone with information about him or the robberies to call authorities
Authorities are looking for a man in connection with at least four violent robberies in midtown Manhattan in the last week.
The man struck three pharmacies in the spree that started last Wednesday; he also robbed a woman as she withdrew money from an ATM, police say.
In the first robbery in the pattern, Oct. 19, the man walked into a cleaners on East 34th Street shortly after 8 a.m. and demanded money from a 44-year-old employee. When the employee refused, the suspect whacked her on the head with a stapler, then stole $110 from the cash register and ran off.
The next day, the suspect hit a pharmacy, also on East 34th Street just after 8 a.m., and demanded money from a 36-year-old employee. He then went behind the counter and flashed a knife, police say. The employee opened the register and the suspect grabbed an undetermined amount of money.
On Saturday, the suspect struck again, brandishing a knife at a 25-year-old woman after she withdrew money from a Chase ATM on East 23rd Street. She gave the suspect $40.
The most recent robbery was Monday, when police say the suspect hit a pharmacy on First Avenue. In that case, he went behind the counter and told the 21-year-old employee he had a knife. When a customer approached them, the suspect threatened to shoot everyone in the store, police say.
The employee opened the cash register and the suspect made off with $200, police say.
Local
Authorities released surveillance video that shows the suspect going behind the counter and later walking down the street.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
