Video of suspect in hypodermic needle robberies from Gothamist on Vimeo.
Police are asking for the public's help in finding a man who has been threatening people in the Bronx with a hypodermic needle in order to rob them of their property, including items like iPads and iPods.
According to the NYPD, the suspect, described as a Hispanic man around 40 years old, about 5'6" and 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, has struck 8 times. Here's how the police describe the incidents, which all involve male victims:
Incident# 1: On Thursday, August 16, 2012 at approximately 1100 hours in the vicinity of Castle Hill Avenue and East Tremont Avenue the suspect approached the male victim and demanded property. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the location.
Incident# 2: On Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at approximately 0830 hours in the vicinity of Roberts Avenue and East Tremont Avenue the suspect approached the male victim and demanded property. The victim complied, and the suspect fled the location.
3. Monday September 10, 2012 at 0740 hours at White Plains Road and East Gun Hill Road. The suspect approached a M/16 threatened him with a needle and removed his iPad.Incident#4 (48th Pct): On Friday, September, 7,2012 at 0740 hours at the N/E corner of Bathgate Avenue and East Tremont Avenue, suspect approached M/31 and removed his iPod and fled the location.
Incident#5 (42nd Pct): On Thursday, September,13, 2012 at 0830 hours at the S/E corner of Washington avenue and Claremont Parkway, suspect approached a male victim, displayed a hypodermic needle, demanded property and removed his iPad and headphones and fled the location.
Incident#6 (48th Pct): On Friday, September 14,2012 at 0820 hours at the N/W corner of East Tremont Avenue and 3rd Avenue, suspect approached M/14, engaged him in a conversation, displayed a hypodermic needle, demanded property and removed the victim's cellphone and fled the location.
Incident#7 (45th Pct): On Friday, September 14, 2012 at 0930 hours at the S/E corner of East Tremont Avenue and Castle Hill Ave, suspect approached M/17 on the #40 Bus, tried to engage him in a conversation and threatened the victim with a knife but the victim was able to escape and the suspect fled.
Incident#8 (45th Pct): 9/14/12 (Fri) at 1800hrs at the S/E corner of East Tremont Avenue and Sampson Avenue, suspect approached M/19, made a verbal threat and removed his iPod before fleeing the location.
No injuries have been reported yet. The suspect was last seen (after the September 11 incident) wearing a black leather Yankee cap, black hooded sweatshirt, black t-shirt with blue lettering, grey jeans, black sneakers.
Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
