Queens Residents On Edge As Police Hunt For Serial Mugger
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Police were on a manhunt for a serial mugger in Queens. The mugging spree includes at least 10 attacks since the beginning of the year.
The most recent attack happened in Flushing, at an upscale, residential area just across the street from a park, reports CBS 2's Kathryn Brown.
Brown spoke with the father of one of the victims, who on Wednesday was making a personal plea to get the criminal off the streets.
"I'm very furious, you know? That's shameful," said Jonathan Lu.
Lu was enraged at the man who attacked his daughter and worried sick. She was mugged in front of her Forrest Hills apartment building last Monday, punched in the back of the head and left bleeding on the ground as her purse was stolen.
More than a week later and after several days in the hospital, Lu said, his daughter was too terrified to go public and still in an enormous amount of pain.
"Someone hit my daughter on the back and took her bag," Lu said. "She's got all these stitches on her forehead and on the nose."
The locations of the attacks range from Forest Hills to Flushing, in primarily upscale neighborhoods, and the victims range in age from 22 to 62. All are women, and each was physically assaulted and mugged.
It's unnerving to people who live in the normally peaceful areas.
"It's like we're not safe in New York any more," Rego Park resident Monica Baldo told CBS 2's John Slattery. "Something has to be done immediately."
"Crazy – it's dangerous," Lynette Guzman, of Rego Park, said. "I didn't know about it at all."
"I'm shocked by that, and it concerns me for sure," said Larry Colon.
Police released a sketch of the man they believe was responsible for all 10 and possibly others. The suspect was described as an Hispanic man between 30 and 35 yearsold, 5'9" with a thin build and curly black hair.
Police do not believe the attacker used a weapon, but were urging people and women in particular to be especially careful and aware of their surroundings.
