He went to buy a cup of coffee on the Lower East Side and wound up getting a fistful of pain from a brutal robber.
Cops need the public’s help in finding the tough guy who roughed up an 82-year-old man at a local bodega during a robbery on Wednesday morning.
Police released video footage of the attack inside the Big Apple Food Market at 219 East Broadway, which occurred at 6:20 a.m. on June 16.
Law enforcement sources said the victim stood at the counter to order a cup of joe when the crook accosted him and demanded money.
The video shows the suspect raising a closed fist at the man and grabbing the victim’s cane while issuing verbal threats.
When the victim refused to hand over money, police said, the suspect punched the octogenarian in the head, then yanked away his cane — shoving the senior to the floor.
The crook then ran out of the store, with the victim’s cane in hand, heading eastbound on East Broadway before turning southbound onto Clinton Street.
Officers from the 7th Precinct responded to the incident. The victim suffered a minor head injury, but refused medical attention at the scene.
Police described the suspect as a man in his 30s with a dark complexion and a partially bald head, who was last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants and black sneakers.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at nypdcrimestoppers.com, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.
