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Suspect attacks, robs elderly women in Queens

Monday, March 12, 2007

(Queens - WABC, March 9, 2007) (WABC) -- A 101-year-old woman on her way to church was attacked and robbed -- and police say she isn't the only victim.

Cops say the suspect attacked twice this week. His target: elderly women.

Eyewitness News reporter Jen Maxfield spoke with both victims and has the story from the Jamaica Estates section of Queens.

This cold blooded attacker isn't just targeting elderly women -- he's targeting elderly women with walkers. In two brutal attacks, this mugger got away with less than $40 dollars. But what he didn't know is that he was caught on camera.

"I'm a 101-years-old. How you going to run after a mugger?," said Rose Morat.

Rose Morat's face is battered and bruised after a violent struggle with a mugger in the lobby of her Queens apartment building. The assault was caught on videotape in disturbing detail.

We see Rose on her way to church with the help of a walker. The young man she thought was opening the door for her turns on her, punching her repeatedly in the face before he takes her purse and rummages through her pockets. Bleeding profously through her mouth, the century old woman musters the strength to try to get her purse back -- and that's when this heartless thief knocks her and her walker to the ground.

"I got a little angry ... and I said 'oh that so and so, I hope you get caught,'" Morat said.

As Rose's neighbors rushed to her aid, police say her attacker jumped on his pink bike and peddled over to the Commonlife Tower on 170th Street and found his second victim, 85-year-old Solange Elizee, who suffers from Parkinson's and also uses a walker.

The same mugger rode the elevator up with her, got off one floor below and ran up to Solange's door before she could get inside.

"He begun to kick me, beat me in my face ... a lot of blood coming out of my mouth," she said.

Solange's chin and arm were injured in the attack. But perhaps most upsetting, thieves stole this widow's wedding ring that she has worn for 60 years. Solange and Rose hope everyone takes a good look at this crook -- described as a black male in his 30s -- in the hopes that someone will turn him in before another elderly woman gets hurt.

Both victims spent time in the hospital this week, and both are expected to make full recoveries. But this attacker could not crush Rose Morat's spirit. She told police 'If I hadn't had both hips replaced, I would have chased after him myself.'

Anyone with information on these robberies are asked to call the NYPD's CrimeStoppers hotline at 800-577-TIPS.

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