Thief Punches Man In The Head To Steal A Cellphone, Police Say

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — A thief tried to steal a man's cellphone at a public charging station and repeatedly punched him in the head, police said.

A 54-year-old man was charging his phone at a public charging station at the Fulton St. station located at Broadway and Fulton Sts. Sunday, April 7 at 10:45 p.m., according to police.

Another man walked up and grabbed the victim's cell phone and attempted to flee — but the victim tried to grab it back, police said. The thief began punching the victim in the head, causing bruising and swelling on his face, police said.

The thief fled towards the A and C train platform without the victim's cellphone, police said.

Police said the victim declined medical attention.

The man was described as 6 feet tall, 200 pounds and balding with close cut black hair, according to police. Video surveillance shows him wearing a black Adidas jacket with white stripes on the sleeves, white pants and tan boots.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @ NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.