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Police Identify Suspect In Series Of Elderly Robberies, Beatings

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Police have identified the suspect in a violent string of muggings targeting elderly women in Brooklyn and Queens.

Police want your help finding 64-year-old Clarence Jones.

They say he's suspected of at least five attacks. In all five, Jones allegedly flashed a gun or knife before robbing his victims.

"We've had several incidents of robberies in Brooklyn and Queens. We have a citywide pattern. We did some datamining. We have a lot of images of this fellow," said Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce.

Boyce said Jones has 19 prior arrests and spent 14 years in prison for the exact same crime.

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said he wants Jones put away for the rest of his life, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.

Investigators believe Jones most recently attacked 83-year-old Erin Van Schendel Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn. She was left badly bruised.

"I guess I just got socked, I don't remember very much," she told CBS2's Janelle Burrell.

Back in January, police believe he followed a 71-year-old woman into her home near Prospect Place and 6th Avenue in Brooklyn, tied her up, pulled out a pistol, and bashed her in the face. He got away with $375 in that incident.

On March 2, police believe Jones robbed 91-year-old Elizabeth Gioino at gunpoint.

Jones is 5'8" tall, weighs about 202 pounds, and has gray hair, police aid.

Police and the Brooklyn borough president are offering a combined $3,500 reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. You can also submit a tip through the Crime Stoppers website or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) and then entering TIP577.

All calls are kept confidential.

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