Children's store armed robber ties up woman inside Midtown building

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- An armed robber who has been hitting children's stores in Brooklyn has apparently crossed the East River in dramatic fashion. This week, he barged into a building in Midtown, and tied up a woman inside.

Police are racing to catch him before he strikes again.

Investigators say on Tuesday just before 7 p.m. a man walked into a women's clothing store in Midtown on East 47th Street near Lexington Ave, and grabbed a 31-year-old woman by her hair. Then, the man allegedly forced her into the basement with her hands and feet bound by wire and duct tape. The suspect then went on to take items from the store before running away.

Investigators say this is the latest in a string of incidents on three previous occasions at Brooklyn shops on April 8th, 28th, and May 3rd. One man went inside, while another man waited outside.

Surveillance images show the two men using a stolen credit card from one of those incidents.

In those three cases, a man entered children's clothing and toy stores, took out a knife, demanded money from the register, as well as the female store clerk's cell phone and credit cards.

All of the store clerks are okay, at least physically. Anyone with information is asked to call police immediately.