'I Knew I Was In Trouble': Chelsea Robbery Victim Speaks Exclusively To CBS2
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Cameras captured two suspects as they attacked and robbed a 76-year-old man in the lobby of a Chelsea apartment building earlier this week, police said.
It happened around 10:30 p.m. Monday on 21st Street and Seventh Avenue.
Now, the victim is speaking exclusively to CBS2 about those terrifying moments.
The victim, who asked to keep his identity concealed, said he noticed the two men behind him while he was walking up Seventh Avenue, telling CBS2's Magdalena Doris that they followed him into his building "like a shadow."
"Suddenly I noticed there was someone behind me, then next to me. I knew I was in trouble," he said. "I turned, I tried to get out, but suddenly there was another guy behind him and they threw me against the buzzers."
The victim said he was caught completely off guard and that he was no match for the two younger men.
Surveillance video shows the two suspects shove the victim against a wall and then go through his pockets.
"One was hitting me while the other was going through my pockets looking for something and I screamed and screamed and screamed and screamed," the victim said.
When he fought back, the suspects threw him to the ground and left.
The victim is advising others to pay attention to their surroundings.
"Look around you, I realize that I had not thought about incidents like this for so long that I was in my own fog," he said.
He was not injured in the attack, and said the suspects got away with about $60 in cash.
A wanted poster now hangs outside the building where the attack happened, where a police officer stands guard.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident 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 or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.