A man arrested for allegedly robbing and assaulting a 71-year-old man at an ATM in Avondale, has been linked to two other similar attacks in Phoenix.
Court records show that the man used a sock filled with rocks to knock his victims unconscious as he stole their cash after they withdrew the money from an ATM.
Police said the first robbery happened on July 3 at a bank near 75th Avenue and Thomas Road, when 30-year-old William Christopher Schuster allegedly stood behind the 57-year-old victim as she was withdrawing money from the ATM. Schuster then struck her with a sock of rocks, knocking her unconscious and taking $200.
Records said Schuster struck twice the next day, once at a bank near 35th Avenue and Bell Road, where he hit a 63-year-old man, fracturing his jaw and taking $180.
He also stole $60 from a 71-year-old man at the Chase Bank near Dysart and McDowell roads, again striking him over the head with the sock of rocks, police said.
It was family members who contacted police after seeing ATM photos of Schusterthat police released to the media, investigators said.
Schuster was located and arrested on July 8. He has been charged with multiple counts of assault and armed robbery.
