Man wanted for stealing chains, bracelets on Coney Island

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WABC) -- Police are looking for a suspect who has been targeting older men and robbing them in the Coney Island area.

In each incident, the suspect approached the victim while on a bike and removes their jewelry. The police cited six incidents.

"Well if he comes to grab my neck, we're going to fight, I'll tell you that!" one woman said.

Some in the above-60 crowd on the Coney Island Boardwalk are just fed up with a suspect who seems to be targeting people because of their age.

Police say he's done it at least six times since July.

In fact, a surveillance video on West 30th Street near the boardwalk last Thursday shows the suspect slowly approach from behind and snatch the chain right off his victim's neck.

Camille and Carmine say their friend, in his 80's, was mugged last month while sitting on a bench. Then the suspect leapt over a fence and got away on his bike.

"He turned around this way and then they guy yanked on his chain, and he had a cross on it, the guy got the chain, but not the cross," Camille said.

"I took off my cross because I heard about it. Somebody on a bike watches and as soon as he sees you're not paying attention, grabs your chain and jumps on the bike and high tails it out of there," Carmine said.

Police confirm most times, the suspect is on a bicycle, either on the approach or the getaway. They want you to take a good look at his picture. In fact they've now put up flyers around the neighborhood.

What police don't want is anyone like getting hurt if they try too hard to fight back.

"I would recommend that they just let the attacker take whatever they want, try to get the best description possible, and then call the police or 911," said Lt. David Cagno, of the 60th Precinct Detective Squad.

Between July 9 and Aug. 13, the suspect took chains and bracelets from victims in their 60s, 70s and 80s,

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).