A 93-year-old woman robbed in East Harlem says she doesn’t know how she’ll pay her bills this month after a thief ran off with $600 in cash she had just taken out of the bank.
“I feel terrible, and just keep thinking about it,” Maria Vasquez told source.
She says she planned to use the money to pay for her monthly bills and now worries about how she’ll get by.
“I need that money, because my husband passed away seven years ago. Until the money comes next month, I’m not sure how I’m going to pay the bills,” Vasquez said.
The robbery took only a matter of seconds, Vasquez said, and before she knew it, the thief had snatched the cash she had tucked away inside her dress and slipped out of the store at Regines Originals clothing store at 176 E. 116th St..
“Right away he puts his hands on me, because he knew where the money was. I said, run, run, run they’re taking my money,” Vasquez said.
Surveillance cameras from inside the East Harlem clothing store captured the ruthless thief Wednesday afternoon, a source said.
The video shows the suspect browsing inside the store before he appears to scope out Vasquez and suddenly creeps up from behind her wheelchair and goes for the cash.
Police are asking anyone who may recognize the suspect to speak out before he targets someone else.
“I want him to turns himself in, I don’t want them to kill him, but punish him so we can all see what punishment is for the rest of the people that think about robbing others,” Vasquez said.
Police say the suspect is about 5’10” tall and weighs around 160 lbs., source reports. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt, black sneakers, tan jeans and a tan bag.
The robber is described as a man about 35 years old, 5-feet 10-inches, 160 pounds with brown hair.
Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577.
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