Robber knocks people out, steals hearing aids, iPhones | News

Tampa, Florida - It's not easy to rattle Andrew Gwaltney.

He is what you would call a citizen of the world and has seen it all. Born in Dusseldorf, the globe trotter has lived everywhere from the Philippines to the Middle East and has never had a problem with safety.

Until now.

Andrew told 10 News, "The economy is really bad, people are hungry, people are hungry."

The world traveler had no way of knowing that he would be attacked with a stun gun near his South Tampa home, just a mile from Westshore Plaza. 

It happened last Tuesday night around 10:30.

Andrew believes it was a taser when he felt the voltage on his back.  "It tenses up your whole body. You don't even expect it, you have no control, no control. It hurts."

After Andrew was hit, the attacker took his $200, his iPhone and left the 28-year-old with a deadly threat.

"If you move, I'll kill you. But, I was still disoriented at that time," said Andrew.

Sadly, the attacker struck four times just last week. He struck twice on May 22nd, then again on May 23rd and 29th. 

In fact, after Andrew was attacked, the guy struck again, 15 minutes later, one block away.

"Honestly, he wasn't like a bum, he had 100 dollar shoes on, nice Nikes. He had nice shoes on," said Andrew. 

Aris Macinnes lives not too far from where the attack took place.  Tampa police detectives knocked on her door last week trying to garner information about the case.  She says she will now change her habits.

"I'm going to have to start thinking when I walk to the car, when I'm heading out to go to the store, is someone going to try and smack me on the head," Aris said.

So, how is this guy getting away with it? 

Tampa police detectives say the guy walks up from behind, hits his victims in the head or uses a stun gun on them, then steals their belongings and takes off running.

Aris told us, "I'm going to be definitely thinking about this for the next couple of weeks, I'm sure, until there's some resolution."

The attacker is described as a black man in his mid-20s, roughly six feet tall, 180 pounds, wearing long black shorts and expensive tennis shoes. He was using a t-shirt, victims say, to cover his face.

The guy strikes randomly between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.  He has hit neighborhoods from West Fig Street to North B Street to West Gray Street - all in South Tampa, not too far from Westshore Plaza.

One woman coming home from Publix fought back with a gallon jug of water and hit the guy in the head after he had dragged her several feet.

Luckily, all the victims are doing well. Some have a few cuts and bruises. 

Andrew says more than anything, he's angry. "I just want my phone back," he told us. "I don't know this guy's story."

The attacker has stolen purses, wallets, money, hearing aids and iPhones. Police believe it's the same man, however, they say it could be the work of more than one person.

If you know who this is or have heard about this case, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.