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Man Accused of Spraying Women in Face and Robbing Them Surrenders to Police

By Eddie Small | November 24, 2015 12:08pm
 Gilrael Ruperto, 26, who is suspected of committing a string of robberies in the South Bronx, turned himself in on Monday night, police said.
Gilrael Ruperto, 26, who is suspected of committing a string of robberies in the South Bronx, turned himself in on Monday night, police said.
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NYPD

SOUTH BRONX — A homeless man accused of spraying women in the face and robbing them has turned himself in to police, the NYPD said.

Gilrael Ruperto, 26, reported to the 40th Precinct stationhouse on Monday at 11 p.m. and was arrested and charged with three counts of robbery, according to the NYPD.

Officers suspect Ruperto, who is homeless, of attacking and robbing three women in their 60s and 70s over the past few weeks throughout the South Bronx.

The first theft occurred on Nov. 8, when he held a knife to the throat of a 68-year-old woman on the third floor of an apartment building on E. 156th Street and stole her bag, which contained $500, police said.

On Nov. 15, police said Ruperto threw a 64-year-old woman to the floor in her E. 153rd Street apartment building, sprayed her in the face with an unknown liquid, punched her repeatedly and stole her bag, as well $50 in cash and a ZTE smartphone.

Then, on Nov. 17, he is accused of throwing a 72-year-old woman to the ground in her E. 137th Street apartment building, spraying her in the face with an unknown substance and taking her purse.

Officers said they still do not know what Ruperto had been spraying at his victims.