Steakhouse Attacker Connected To Midtown Robbery Spree: Police

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A man accused of attacking a woman in the basement of a ritzy Midtown steakhouse has been connected to two other robberies in the neighborhood, police said.

The man's crime spree began on Aug. 14 when he broke into the Millinery Centre Synagogue on Sixth Avenue and West 38th Street, police said. Once he was inside the temple, the man entered an office and swipe $500 in cash, police said.

The next robbery occurred on Oct. 19 inside an office building located at 215 W. 40th St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues, police said. The burglar entered the building's basement, shoved a 47-year-old maintenance worker to the ground and stole his wallet, police said.

The worker refused medical attention at the scene, but later went to the hospital and received treatment for a broken elbow, police said.

On Nov. 9 the man assaulted a woman in the basement of Quality Meats on West 58th Street after entering the restaurant through a side entrance, police said.

The man punched the woman in the left eye and placed her in a choke hold inside a manager's office before demanding money, police said. The woman handed over $400 from a backpack, after which the mugger fled the business, police said. The victim suffered swelling and bruising to her eye and was treated at an area hospital.

The suspect is described as a man with black hair who stands about 5-foot-7 and weighs around 180 pounds, police said. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black jacket and a winter hat.

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

Photo by NYPD