A robber pretending to be in mourning violently attacked a Harlem funeral director — whipping out a machete and repeatedly punching him in the head to swipe his phone and wallet, according to cops.
The still-at-large crook was seen amiably fist-bumping the 66-year-old funeral director in his office at Daniels Wilhelmina Funeral Home on Feb. 17 while pretending to be there to arrange a funeral, the NYPD said while releasing video of it Wednesday.
But he then “demanded money, punched the victim in the head multiple times and displayed a machete,” the NYPD said.
He stole the director’s phone and wallet before fleeing.
The director declined medical attention, cops said.
Surveillance footage also showed the suspect walking and chatting to someone in the street while wearing a light-colored coat over dark pants and a shirt and tie.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
