Police: Knife-Wielding Man Robs 4 People In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Police are searching for a knife-wielding man they say robbed four people in the Corona section of Queens.
Last Wednesday night, the suspect came up behind a 50-year-old woman and placed a knife to her neck, police said. He made off with her purse, worth about $1,600.
A short time later, the man slashed a 41-year-old woman stole her cellphone, police said. He then cut a 26-year-old woman and took her purse. Both victims were treated for minor injuries and released.
"It makes me really think about maybe my route home," resident Chris Robinson told CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis.
"I got three daughters that tend to these schools over here, so it's very scary," said resident Peter Melendez.
Then on Sunday night, the suspect allegedly placed a knife to a 20-year-old man's neck and cut him while removing his wallet. The victim was treated for a non-life-threatening injury.
"I'm kind of shocked someone got slashed in the neck, surprising," said Ana Duarte, who lives nearby. "I have a 6-year-old child, so I'm terrified."
Duarte said most homeowners in the area have surveillance cameras.
"Usually when things happen around this area, police will come over and we'll help them no problem, looking for anybody," she added.
Denise Perez told DeAngelis her daughter was mugged a few years ago and she believes the area has gotten worse.
"Especially in the night, because if you go out in the night, you don't see any police," she said.
In total, the man stole a value of more than $3,000. Police described him as a Hispanic man, 20 to 30 years old, last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
