Purse snatcher takes off on scooter

Police are searching for a purse snatcher who uses a scooter as his getaway vehicle.

In all three incidents, the suspect approaches a woman in Upper Manhattan and rips her purse or cuts it off before taking off on the black and red scooter.

On May 13 at about 6:25 p.m., the suspect fled eastbound from the scene at 563 Columbus Avenue, according to cops. Video of the robbery was released by the NYPD.

On June 23 at about 8:40 a.m., the suspect headed eastbound from the scene at 540 West 114th Street. And on June 29 at about 12:20 a.m., the man fled northbound from the scene at West 101 Street and West End Avenue.

The suspect is described by police as a light-skinned male, 50 to 60 years old, 5'6" to 5'9" and last seen wearing a black helmet and a gray sweater. 

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. The NYPD says all calls/texts are strictly confidential.