Man Arrested in NYC Elevator Robberies

Police  have arrested a man in connection with a series of elevator robberies over the last week and a half.

Freddie Keitt, a 33-year-old homeless man, was charged with three counts of robbery in the Manhattan elevator robberies, police said. He's expected to be charged at a later date in connection with similar robberies in Queens.

Attorney information for Keitt was not immediately available.

The most recent incident in the pattern occurred Sunday, when the suspect followed a 22-year-old woman into the elevator of her apartment building in Gramercy Park, brandished a weapon and stole her purse before running off.

Police believe the same suspect followed an 85-year-old woman into the elevator of a West Village building Saturday night, knocked her down and stole her wedding ring, along with other valuables. The woman told police she had seen something dark in his hand, but wasn't sure if it was a weapon.

Police linked those incidents to two other robberies, including one that had happened earlier Saturday. In that case, police said the suspect had a gun. He followed a 28-year-old victim into her East Village elevator and stole her purse and cell phone.

The earliest incident in the pattern dates back to Dec. 4 in Far Rockaway. The suspect, who was also armed in that case, followed a 58-year-old victim into her apartment building elevator and demanded her purse. When she refused, he grabbed it anyway and ran off. 

None of the victims were seriously hurt in any of the incidents.

Police told NBC 4 New York detectives will bring in witnesses and victims from the robberies for lineups later Wednesday.

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