Washington, Jan. 27 (ANI): An unidentified man has been beating up and robbing people of Asian descent in East Harlem, notching at least seven victims since January 17.
Police said the victims' age range is from 25 to the mid 60s, out of which four have been women and all of the attacks have occurred in East Harlem, reports New York Post.
Police are investigating whether the violent mugger, who uses his fist as a weapon, attacked his eighth victim on Saturday. A 57-year-old Asian man was cornered around 10:45 am in the elevator of the George Washington Houses on East 97th Street, sources said.
The mugger, believed to be between 200 and 240 pounds, punched the victim in the face, breaking his nose, and stealing his wallet with 200 dollars in it and a cell phone.
Police say the brute is a Hispanic man with light skin, between 6 feet tall and 6-foot-2.
Police Commissioner Kelly said he has dispatched anti-crime units to the area.
One law enforcement source said Asian people are sometimes targeted because they tend to carry cash on them and may not use banks.
Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Vivetro called the attacks "extremely alarming".
Between 2000 and 2010 the Asian population in her district has shot up from 1 to 3 percent, which includes East Harlem, Randall's Island, and parts of the Upper West Side.(ANI)
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