Cops are on the hunt for a thug who has terrorized the area around Columbia University robbing – and in several instances beating – at least eight women in the Upper West Side neighborhood since August.
In each case, the crook – described by one source as “very violent” – targeted female victims he either jumped from behind or menaced with a weapon before making off with their iPods, cellphones or cash.
The first robbery occurred on West 123rd Street just off Morningside Avenue at 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 15, cops said. The thief pulled a knife and robbed a 21-year-old woman.
The punk struck again on Sept. 1, relieving two women of their property at 3:20 a.m. at 118th Street off Morningside Drive by simulating that he had a handgun, cops said.
The next day, he robbed two more women at 115th Street near Broadway at around 3:40 a.m. The last known incident occurred on Sept. 8 at 3:15 a.m. at 125th Street and Broadway, when he punched and robbed the 25-year-old victim.