UPPER WEST SIDE — An ex-con with a lengthy rap sheet who followed a pair of women into their apartments and robbed them has been arrested, police said.
Howard Stokes, 55, is charged with forcing his way into the apartments of two women and robbing them within a span of fours hours in October, authorities said.
In the first incident on Oct. 18, Stokes followed a 23-year-old woman into her West 106th Street apartment building's vestibule about 11:50 p.m., pushed her against a wall and grabbed her pocketbook before fleeing, police said. However, the victim chased after him and grabbed her purse back, police added.
Later, at about 3:30 a.m., Stokes followed a 24-year-old woman into her apartment building on West 107th Street, pushed her to the ground and stole her iPhone, police said.
Capt. Marlon Larin, the commanding officer in the 24th Precinct, said Stokes lives outside the neighborhood. He previously served prison time for robbery, burglary and drug dealing, records show.
He was arrested on Jan. 13 and charged with both robbery and burglary, authorities said. He is being held at the Manhattan Detention Complex on $20,000 bail.
His lawyer did not immediately respond to request for comment.
