Robber Who Targets Manhattan Women Arrested, Police Say

NEW YORK, NY – A man is facing charges for robbing at least eight women in Harlem, the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side since October, police said.

Frank Peterson, a 65-year-old East Harlem resident, was charged Saturday with robbery and burglary, police said. The man is accused of following women inside their apartment buildings and mugging them once inside.

Peterson's robbery spree began on the night of Monday, Oct. 23 when he robbed two women in Harlem, police said. The accused robber followed a 64-year-old woman on West 119 Street near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, pushed her to the ground and stole her bag, police said.

Just 30 minutes later, Peterson entered a residential building on West 116 Street and Seventh Avenue where he attacked and robbed a 29-year-old woman checking her mail, police said. Peterson hit the woman in the face with a bike lock and stole her purse and jacket, police said. The victim was treated for a laceration to her face and swelling to the head at St. Luke's hospital, police said.

Peterson's six other robberies all occurred withing the month of December and all involved threatening women after following them into a residential building, police said.

Here's a summary of the robberies Peterson has been accused of:

• On Dec. 4 Peterson allegedly robbed a 37-year-old woman inside a building on West 111 Street and Manhattan Avenue. Peterson cornered the woman in a stairwell and stole $21 in cash, police said.
• On Dec. 13 Peterson allegedly robbed a 60-year-old woman inside a building on East End Avenue and East 82nd Street. Peterson cornered the woman in a stairwell and stole $10 in cash, police said.
• On Dec. 14 Peterson allegedly robbed a 42-year-old woman inside a building on First Avenue and East 81st Street. Peterson threatened the woman with a screwdriver in the building vestibule and stole her necklace, police said.
• On Dec. 16 Peterson allegedly robbed a 74-year-old woman inside a building on West 122 Street and Manhattan Avenue. Peterson followed the woman into a building elevator and forcibly stole $10 in cash, police said.
• On Dec. 18 Peterson allegedly robbed a 56-year-old woman inside a building on Broadway and West 149 Street. Peterson followed the woman into an elevator and said "if you give me all our money there will not be a problem," police said. The woman gave him an unknown amount of money.
• On Dec. 18 Peterson allegedly robbed a 78-year-old woman inside a building on East 127 Street and Fifth Avenue. Peterson put a knife to the woman's throat as she was checking her mail and stole two rings and an unknown amount of cash, police said.

Photo by NYPD