Residents Shocked By Lower East Side Elevator Robbery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD is searching for a violent trio who allegedly choked and robbed a 45-year-old man in an elevator on the Lower East Side.
The incident occurred at 240 Madison Street within the LaGuardia Housing complex around 11:10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Two men and a woman were caught on surveillance video choking, punching and robbing the victim before leaving him unconscious on the elevator floor, police said.
The suspects got away with more than $400, an iPhone, keys and credit cards, CBS 2's Kathryn Brown reported.
The victim was not seriously injured in the attack.
Residents who saw the video of the attack were shocked.
"That's horrible," said Susan Perez, who works in the building.
"Very scary," said resident Solomon Azb.
"The fact that he's on the floor and he's not getting up is a little alarming," said resident Viva Gant. "That's more than a robbery."
Resident Maria Mertell, who lives a few doors down from the victim, called the attack a disgrace.
CBS 2 tried to reach out to the victim for comment, but Mertell said he won't open the door for anyone, even his own neighbors.
"Nobody wants to do it, they're afraid," Mertell said. "Nowadays you don't feel safe. I don't feel safe."
The city installed surveillance cameras in the building just within the last month and Mertell is pleading with her neighbors to look at the video long and hard.
"If they know them, point them out! Don't be afraid because if you live in fear we're always gonna have to live in fear. That's it. That's the bottom line," Mertell said.
Community leaders are hosting a forum on safety in public housing Tuesday night.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
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