Reward Climbs To $3,500 For Information In Armed Robbery Of 91-Year-Old Brooklyn Woman
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the violent armed robbery of a 91-year-old woman in Brooklyn has climbed to $3,500. Investigators said the same suspect is likely responsible for targeting another woman over 70 last month.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams announced he is offering a $1,000 reward in addition to the $2,500 being offered by the NYPD.
Victim Elizabeth Gioino was tackled from behind by an armed 250-pound man in the vestibule of her Park Slope brownstone Wednesday afternoon, police said.
"He hit me, he said 'shut up, shut up.' He choked me," Gioino told CBS2's Magdalena Doris. "I said, 'Please leave me alone! I'm a sick woman! I'm old enough! Leave me alone!' He choked me three times."
A neighbor who tried to intervene was also robbed at gunpoint, police said.
The suspect was caught on surveillance video near the scene of the crime.
"This is a bad person and he needs to go where bad people go," Adams told reporters Friday, including 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa. "That's called jail."
Adams said he is also writing a personal check for $175 to help Gioino recover the money that was stolen from her.
"It's just a lot of money, it's the least I can to do... saying that there are people in this borough that still respect their elders," Adams told CBS2.
Police believe the same man is responsible for pistol-whipping and robbing a 71-year-old woman on Sixth Avenue and Prospect Place last month.
CBS2 spoke with the 71-year-old victim in February, who said the man spent over an hour and 15 minutes inside of her home terrorizing her, threatening her, and pointing a gun to her mouth.
His extended stay is leading some officials to believe he may be mentally unstable.
"For him to sit down ask a series of questions, spend a long time inside a residence... there's something that's just not right," Adams said.
Meanwhile, his most recent victim is terrified.
"They say we'll catch him, we'll catch him, how are they going to catch?" Gioino said.
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.
