Man Choked, Sprayed In Face During Hell's Kitchen Robbery: Police

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — An elderly man was violently robbed on a Hell's Kitchen street, police said.

A 70-year-old man was standing on West 54th Street near 10th Avenue around 7:15 a.m. Wednesday when he was approached from behind and put in a chokehold, police said. The unknown mugger then sprayed an unknown substance into the victim's eyes, police said.

The brute snatched $180 in cash and a cellphone from the victim before fleeing the scene, police said.

The victim was treated for minor injuries at Roosevelt Hospital, police said.

The suspect is described as a man in his 20s standing about 6-feet-tall and weighing around 160 pounds, police said. He was last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD