Once a robber, always a robber. A New York City man was arrested on Nov. 22 for allegedly stealing from a woman at knifepoint in the subway. According to a criminal complaint, the suspect stole a woman’s purse, then brought out a knife and told her to stay back. Hours later, the robber was released without bail and then proceeded to rob another woman of her iPhone on the subway the following day, officials said.
The 63-year-old thief, Augustin Garcia, faces charges of robbery, menacing, petit larceny, grand larceny, criminal trespassing, and criminal possession of a weapon. On the afternoon of Nov. 22, Garcia allegedly stole a woman’s purse and ran onto a train, and when the victim pursued him, he then “displayed a knife and told her to stay back,” according to a criminal complaint.
After he was apprehended, prosecutors demanded a $15,000 cash bail or a $45,000 bond. However, just after midnight on Nov. 23, Judge James Clynes decided to let him go on supervised release, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office told Fox News.
About seven hours later after being released, Garcia was again arrested for allegedly robbing the second victim, and prosecutors upped the request to a $20,000 cash bail or a $60,000 bond. However, Judge Valentina Morales ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation.
Garcia’s brother, Jose Garcia, who initially reported the crime spree, told the New York Post that his brother used to be “sharp as a weasel” and has worked as a supervisor at a welding company, but was diagnosed with schizophrenia about 35 years ago and has never gotten the help he needs.
“My brother is a sick person,” Jose told the newspaper. “When he goes to the hospital and is committed there, sometimes for a month or two, he sometimes doesn’t get the treatment completely, and they release him. And once they release him, the problem comes back again.”
According to the New York Post, Garcia was also arrested for allegedly stealing a 12-pack of beer from a bodega in the Bronx the day before the first robbery. He reportedly boasted to cops after one of the arrests that he knew he’d be released.
“I know I’m getting out; I have no record,” Garcia told officers at the Fifth Precinct station house, per the Post.
