Scooter-Riding Bandit Prowls Upper West Side, Police Say

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The NYPD is trying to identify a scooter-riding purse snatcher who is wanted in connection to three robberies on the Upper West Side, police said.

The cutpurse attempts to look inconspicuous by standing by a parked motor scooter as he lies in wait for an unsuspecting victim to pass, police said. One a victim walks by the man, he approached them from behind and either cuts or physically removes their bags or purses from them before running back to his scooter and jetting off, police said.

The man's crime spree began in May and he also struck twice in late June, police said.

Here's a breakdown of the man's alleged crimes:

• On May 13 the man approached a 36-year-old on Columbus Avenue near West 87th Street and attempted to snatch her purse, police said. When the woman resisted, he threatened her with a knife, police said. The woman released the purse, which contained credit cards, and the man scooted away.
• On June 23 the man approached a 21-year-old woman on West 114th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam and used a sharp object to cut her purse from her shoulder, police said. The man ran back to his scooter and fled the scene, police said.
• On June 29 the man approached a 28-year-old woman on West 101st Street between Riverside Drive and West End Avenue and demanded she hand over her purse, police said. When the woman refused, the man forcibly removed it from her and fled the scene on a scooter, police said.

The man is described as being in his 50s or 60s and standing about 5-foot-6. He was last seen riding a black and red scooter while wearing a black helmet and a gray sweater, police said.

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

Photo by NYPD