Maria Vazquez Stolen Rent
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I heard on the news today that a 35ish year old man, stalked and eventually stole $600 from a 93 year old woman in a wheel chair in East Harlem. She had just cashed her Social Security check and was using that money for her rent. Now, she is unable to pay her rent. Its only $600 and would make this woman's year if she got a little help. No 93 year old in a wheel chair should have to worry about paying rent.
See news story below:
A brazen cad snatched a wad of cash from a 93-year-old woman’s bra as she sat in a wheelchair in one of her favorite East Harlem stores.
A surveillance video of the dastardly act shows the mugger with a man-bun casing the clothing store before casually lifting about $600 in cash from his helpless target on Wednesday afternoon.
Maria Vasquez had just cashed her Social Security check at her bank and was shopping for a new pair of sandals at Regines, a department store on E. 116th St. near Lexington Ave., about 12:20 p.m. when the pickpocket pounced.
Vasquez said she was watching her caretaker peruse the store’s remaining selection of summer shoes when she felt a hand grabbing at her chest.
The thief likely followed his victim from a bank down the street where she had cashed her check, Vasquez said.
She said the creep, who sported a beard almost as short as his moral character and gray T-shirt and carried a small leather satchel, left her without her only income for the month.
“I use it to pay for everything. Everything I have to pay for,” she said. “I need it ... because my husband died seven years ago, and I’m alone.”
Workers at the store were surprised by how bold the man was when carrying out his midday heist.
“He pretended he was shopping and reached down into her bra and snatched the money,” said the store’s manager, who only identified himself as William. “She shouted out in Spanish, and an employee ran over but didn’t understand what she was saying.
“She’s a very regular customer, comes in at least once a week. She’s a very nice old lady,” William said of Vasquez, who hails from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Vasquez’s aide tried to translate, but by then, the man was long gone, William said.
The manager described the depraved crook as tan, possibly Hispanic, tall and skinny, with a beard.
“He’s probably done it before. It was all too smooth when you look at the tape,” William said. “It’s unbelievable. She had no idea that someone was going to rob her...He didn’t take anything else. He just focused on her. She was his target.”
Vasquez’s daughter was at a loss when asked about the heartless swindler.
“The money was hiding in an envelope inside of her blouse. She only gets $650 a month from Social Security and she pays $170 a month for rent, $150 for electricity, $25.50 for the telephone, $50 for water,” said her stunned daughter, Maria Minerva Vasquez. “The rest of her money is for food and clothing. They stole all her money for the whole month!”
Vasquez, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, said she felt no ill will toward her assailant.
“I felt terrible, but I prayed to Jehovah in my heart, and he helped me to bear it,” Vasquez said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
See news story below:
A brazen cad snatched a wad of cash from a 93-year-old woman’s bra as she sat in a wheelchair in one of her favorite East Harlem stores.
A surveillance video of the dastardly act shows the mugger with a man-bun casing the clothing store before casually lifting about $600 in cash from his helpless target on Wednesday afternoon.
Maria Vasquez had just cashed her Social Security check at her bank and was shopping for a new pair of sandals at Regines, a department store on E. 116th St. near Lexington Ave., about 12:20 p.m. when the pickpocket pounced.
Vasquez said she was watching her caretaker peruse the store’s remaining selection of summer shoes when she felt a hand grabbing at her chest.
The thief likely followed his victim from a bank down the street where she had cashed her check, Vasquez said.
She said the creep, who sported a beard almost as short as his moral character and gray T-shirt and carried a small leather satchel, left her without her only income for the month.
“I use it to pay for everything. Everything I have to pay for,” she said. “I need it ... because my husband died seven years ago, and I’m alone.”
Workers at the store were surprised by how bold the man was when carrying out his midday heist.
“He pretended he was shopping and reached down into her bra and snatched the money,” said the store’s manager, who only identified himself as William. “She shouted out in Spanish, and an employee ran over but didn’t understand what she was saying.
“She’s a very regular customer, comes in at least once a week. She’s a very nice old lady,” William said of Vasquez, who hails from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Vasquez’s aide tried to translate, but by then, the man was long gone, William said.
The manager described the depraved crook as tan, possibly Hispanic, tall and skinny, with a beard.
“He’s probably done it before. It was all too smooth when you look at the tape,” William said. “It’s unbelievable. She had no idea that someone was going to rob her...He didn’t take anything else. He just focused on her. She was his target.”
Vasquez’s daughter was at a loss when asked about the heartless swindler.
“The money was hiding in an envelope inside of her blouse. She only gets $650 a month from Social Security and she pays $170 a month for rent, $150 for electricity, $25.50 for the telephone, $50 for water,” said her stunned daughter, Maria Minerva Vasquez. “The rest of her money is for food and clothing. They stole all her money for the whole month!”
Vasquez, a devout Jehovah’s Witness, said she felt no ill will toward her assailant.
“I felt terrible, but I prayed to Jehovah in my heart, and he helped me to bear it,” Vasquez said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.
Organizer
Jared Miller Brown
Organizer
New York, NY
