Gunman Targets Two More Commuters in Mamaroneck and Harrison

Update: 7 p.m.  - Detective John Hynes of the Pelham police department said that he believes the incidents are connected to three armed robberies that took place January in Pelham.

“At this point, I believe it is connected,” Hynes said. “They are very similar in the way the suspects approached the victims and it was the same style.”

The first robbery in place took place at about 12:10 a.m. on Jan. 12. A man was walking on First Street, near Cliff Avenue, when he was approached by a suspect wearing a ski mask and brandishing a black, semi-automatic handgun.

The robber ordered the victim to lay on the ground and stole a wallet and phone, before fleeing. The suspect in that robbery is described as a six-foot tall, black male, between 180 to 200 pounds, who was wearing a black jacket and black pants.

The second robbery in Pelham took place Tuesday at 8:20 p.m. on the 200 block of Monterey Avenue. A woman was walking home from the train station when she heard foot steps approaching her from behind. When she turned around, she saw a man wearing a black ski mask, black hooded sweatshirt and black pants approach her and display a black, semi-automatic hand gun.

The robber, who was described as being about 170 pounds and 5-feet, 10-inches to 6-feet tall, ordered the woman to lay on the ground. He then grabbed two carry bags and a wedding ring before fleeing the scene. 

Police are also investigating the possibility that an armed robbery that took  place in New Rochelle on Jan. 28 may also be connected.

“We are working, now, with the Town of Mamaroneck and we’ve been working with the villages,” Hynes said. “I went to the scene of the robberies that happened last night and met with those detective and started working with them. Today, we had a big inter-agency meeting with New Rochelle, Larchmont, the town and village Mamaroneck, Harrison, Rye and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority police departments and started discussing the robberies.”

With local residents still stinging after the armed robbery of a commuter in the Town of Mamaroneck on , it appears that the worst is not over yet.

In the span of 45 minutes, a masked man approached two separate people as they walked home from train stations in both Harrison and the Village of Mamaroneck.

In Mamaroneck, a 59-year-old village man reported that he was walking home from the train on Stanley Avenue at approximately 8 p.m. Thursday night when a masked man came up behind him brandishing a black handgun and demanding his property.  The man fled soon thereafter.  No injuries were sustained.

The suspect was described as wearing all black with a black mask covering his face, 6’0” and weighing 185 pounds.

Another incident took place in Harrison shortly thereafter at about 9 p.m. as the victim crossed the I-95 overpass on South Road on the way home.

Police believe the same man is responsible for both robberies.

The Harrison victim was struck in the back of the head by what police believe to be a silver-colored pistol. The victim was able to make it to a nearby home where the occupants called 911. Police didn’t release what was taken.

Injuries sustained weren't life threatening, police say, but they didn't provide specifics about the condition of the victim.

Mamaroneck and Harrison Police responded to the scene. The Westchester County Police Aviation Unit flew a police helicopter over the scene throughout the night.

Harrison Police were still investigating the bridge on South Road Friday morning, but have not apprehended the suspect. Police say the robber was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a light colored bandana was used as a mask.

Police were handing out flyers warning commuters to be alert at the Harrison Train Station Friday morning.

"The most important thing is that residents are aware of their surroundings and are cautious," said Harrison Police Lieutenant Edward Lucas.

Anyone with information about these robberies is urged to call Harrison Police at (914)-967-5111 or the Village of Mamaroneck Detective Division at (914) 825-8541.