Search Continues For Suspect In Violent Lower East Side Robbery
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police continued to search Friday for a suspect in connection with a violent mugging that was caught on video on the Lower East Side late last month.
As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, the robbery happened back on Jan. 24, around 4:18 a.m., near Essex and Hester streets.
In the surveillance video, the victim is seen fighting back on the snowy sidewalk. But the mugger gets away.
He is seen struggling with the woman before ripping away her bag, and making off with her wallet, cellphone and other belongings.
For Lower East Side resident Genevieve Dillon, 25, the incident hearkened back to the bad old days of the neighborhood.
"It's definitely a thousand times safer," she said.
Robberies in the Seventh Police Precinct have dropped 86 percent since 1990. The neighborhood has also gentrified, with new construction, boutiques and cafés.
Burglaries have also dropped dramatically in the precinct over the past 25 years, as have homicides. Eighteen people were murdered in the precinct in 1990, but there have been no homicides at all in the neighborhood in the past year.
But that doesn't mean it's now Mayberry, Dillon was quick to say.
"There's still kids around that will rip you off," she said. "I wouldn't walk alone."
Neighbors said walking alone may put people at risk especially in the early-morning hours when the robbery happened. The victim was walking home after a late shift at work at the time of the attack.
The suspect stalked away after he got what he wanted.
Lower East Side resident Adib Olivares applauded the woman for resisting.
"That was a good decision -- good for her," he said. "Not a lot of people fight back."
But police said in general, it is best to give up your belongings in order to avoid an escalation and confrontation – as well as possible injury.
Victim as shaken up, but not hurt.
Police said the woman's purse that the man stole had the woman's cell phone, debit and credit cards and cash.
The suspect is described as a tall, dark-skinned man wearing a green snorkel jacket. The NYPD released additional video of the suspect in hopes that someone would recognize and report him.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS, visit www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
