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Chelsea Subway Mugger Strikes on Upper West Side, Police Say

By Ben Fractenberg | August 25, 2011 8:05pm
Police are looking for William Gibbs in connection with a series of violent robberies in Chelsea and the Upper West Side.
Police are looking for William Gibbs in connection with a series of violent robberies in Chelsea and the Upper West Side.
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NYPD

UPPER WEST SIDE — A violent mugger targeting elderly men on the subway has struck again — this time on the Upper West Side, police said Thursday.

Police are hunting for William Gibbs, 43, in connection with at least four daytime Chelsea robberies including one in which the victim suffered a stroke.

On Wednesday, the suspect assaulted and robbed an 85-year-old man at the 72nd Street C/B station, according to police.

In that case, Gibbs allegedly grabbed the victim's neck from behind and then threw him to the ground. He then took an unspecified amount of money from the victim's wallet before fleeing.

Gibbs — who is also known as Michael Johnson — is described as about 5-foot-6 and 210 pounds with a stocky build. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt.

This is the fourth time the suspect has struck this month, police said.

In the first instance, on Aug. 13, he allegedly choked an elderly man at the entrance to the N train station at Broadway and West 28th Street, police said. The victim then suffered a stroke because of the attack, the NYPD said.

And on Aug. 21, he allegedly hit a man with a blunt object at the entrance to the subway on Eighth Avenue and 23rd Street.  Cops said that Gibbs then choked the man and fled with his wallet.

The victim suffered a damaged trachea in that case.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477), log onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.