LOWER EAST SIDE — A suspect who police believe followed several women into their apartment buildings to beat and rob them was arrested and charged on Thursday with another attack on a woman in her building.
Gilbert Mack, 43, followed a woman into her Ludlow Street apartment building on March 4 at around 11 p.m. and pushed her to the ground, then punched her in the face several times, according to the Manhattan District Attorney.
He rifled through the victim's backpack but didn't find any money and fled empty-handed, police said.
The attack left the victim with swelling and pain on her face, prosecutors said.
Mack was arrested shortly after midnight on March 5, court records show, and has been hit with a felony charge of burglary in the first degree.
Mack is a suspect in four similar attacks against women in the Lower East Side and Chinatown, police said, in which the perpetrator followed women into their apartment buildings and demanded cash while punching them or throwing them to the ground.
He robbed thousands of dollars from his victims and sent one to the hospital with injuries to her nose, jaw and head, police said.
Mack is currently being held in downtown's Manhattan Detention Complex. His bail has been set at $50,000 cash or bond.
Mack's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
