Police in Stamford, Connecticut, are searching for the person who stole birthday money from a 27-year-old autistic man in the area of Veterans Park on Tuesday afternoon.
The victim was on his way to the Stamford Town Center to but video games when a stranger approached him around 3:30 p.m. Sept. 9, followed him into the Old Town Hall and struck up a conversation, according to police.
When the victim "excitedly" showed the other man the $100 his family had given him for his birthday, he was tricked him into it over money, according to police.
Surveillance video shows the man taking the cash and taunting the victim by holding the money away from him, then pretending to place it in the victim's pocket and leaning in for a hug before walking away.
The victim did not realize his money is gone until it was too late.
The man who stole the cash was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with a white rectangle printed on the front and black pants with a white stripe down the sides.
Police are asking for help from the public to identify the man who stole the cash.
In the meantime, Stamford Police Officers and the Police Union have started a collection for the victim, unbeknownst to him, to get him his money back.
Several Stamford residents have also come forward to make contributions because of the crime.
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Anyone with information on the crime should call the Stamford Police Detective Bureau at 203-977-4417. Do not approach the suspect.
