Columbus police met with a crowd of concerned German Village community leaders and residents Tuesday night to quell concerns about a string of violent robberies targeting women.

It's thought that all the robberies were committed by the same man, Cmdr. Robert Strausbaugh told about 150 people at the standing-room-only meeting hosted by the German Village Society at its Meeting Haus.

"We're doing whatever we can to catch this guy," he said.

Abby Lavelle, who has lived in the area for three years, said it's not uncommon to encounter property crime in German Village. But the three attacks in two weeks are very unusual, she said.

"I'm not scared; I'm angry," Lavelle said. "Nobody should have to worry about this, especially during broad daylight."

The first incident occurred the morning of Jan. 23 when a 68-year-old woman was confronted by a stranger in her garage in the 900 block of Jaeger Street. She yelled at the man to get out and he punched her in the face several times before running off. He didn't steal anything or show a weapon and might have been wearing a mask.

The next morning, a man held a knife to the throat of a 26-year-old woman as she left her home in the 800 block of Bruck Street. He demanded money. She complied and wasn't hurt. He was wearing a black hoodie and a silver or white mask that covered the lower part of his face.

On Monday night, a 53-year-old woman was getting things out of the trunk of her car in the 700 block of Mohawk Street when a man wearing a black hoodie put a gun to her forehead and ordered her to give him her purse. He grabbed her purse, threw her to the ground and pistol whipped her across her face and ran.

Police said the victims described their assailant as a young black man who is between 5 feet, 8 inches and 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs somewhere between 150 and 185 pounds.

Strausbaugh said there have been other robberies near German Village, but there has been no confirmed link to the other three attacks. The German Village Society reported a fourth attack at Sycamore and South High streets in an email to members following the meeting.

The commander also said it's possible — but unconfirmed — that the man could be the same person involved in two recent attacks on employees near Nationwide Children's Hospital, including one early Tuesday.

Police have increased patrols in the village, but residents are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings, avoid walking alone, carry a flashlight at night, keep porch lights on and report suspicious activity. Those with security cameras should review the video.

The German Village Society Safety Committee will discuss revamping its Block Watch program at its next meeting, 6:30 p.m. March 8 at the Meeting Haus at 588 S. 3rd St.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Columbus Police Robbery Unit at (614) 645-4665 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS.

awidmanneese@dispatch.com

@AlissaWidman

bburger@dispatch.com

@abburger