Police: Robber chokes, mugs elderly Bronx man

Police are searching for the robber who attacked an elderly man inside his apartment building in the Bronx earlier in the month. According to authorities, the suspect followed his victim into the elevator

News 12 Staff

Oct 31, 2008, 10:09 PM

Updated 5,884 days ago

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Police are searching for the robber who attacked an elderly man inside his apartment building in the Bronx earlier in the month.
According to authorities, the suspect followed his victim into the elevator of an apartment complex at 2160 Bronx Park East, choked him and took off with money in his pockets. The senior citizen did not sustain serious injuries.
The building?s superintendent, Augusto Pena, says the 64-year-old tenant is a good-natured man who was fooled by his assailant.
?He was opening the door for someone [who] was coming in to deliver something,? Pena says. ?Apparently, it was the wrong guy at the wrong time.?
Residents say they are not surprised by the robbery because, despite the presence of several video cameras, outsiders can easily access the building, especially since its first floor is occupied by a medical office.
?I think part of the problem is that there's some people ? they'll just keep buzzing until somebody let's them in,? says Jackie Mountcastle.
The superintendent says he plans to hand out notices to tenants remind them to not let in strangers. Meanwhile, he says the victim has returned to work but still suffers from severe pain in his throat.
Police released the description of the suspect, who is said to be a 6-foot-tall male of medium build with a bald head.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577 TIPS.