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Police: Man Sprays 72-Year-Old Woman With Unknown Substance During Robbery

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a man they said sprayed a 72-year-old woman in the face with an unknown substance and then threw her to the ground before fleeing with her purse.

It happened shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday as the victim exited the elevator on the seventh floor of her building on East 137th Street in the Bronx, police said.

Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male, approximately 5'6" tall and about 160 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue Yankees baseball hat, a black waist-length jacket, blue jeans, and red sneakers.

The suspect also has a tattoo on the back of his neck.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, visit the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.

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