A mugger runs off with an elderly woman's cane and purse after he choked her out in her Brooklyn apartment building elevator. Apologetic Suspect Claimed He Was High On Crack Cocaine ReportingJay Dow NEW YORK (CBS) The NYPD has arrested a man who they say assaulted and robbed an 85-year-old woman in her Brooklyn apartment building elevator, CBS 2 has learned. Police identified the suspect as 26-year-old Cornelius Abson and he is also accused of attacking 11 other seniors in Flatbush, Crown heights, and Kensington, taking everything from cash, Medicaid cards, even groceries. Detectives say additional criminal charges are likely as those victims are brought back in today to look at suspect lineups. Abson, police say, is an ex-con with prior robbery convictions and numerous other arrests.Police believe on Aug. 14, Abson attacked and robbed 85-year-old Lillian France of $900 and her cane in her own building, a vicious attack that was caught on surveillance camera.Officials say Abson admitted to the attack and said he did it because he was apparently high on crack cocaine. In fact, during his interview with police, he apparently said he wrote an apology letter to France."He was sorry and [wrote] he had a drug habit and the person that did this is not necessarily the person that he is," a police spokesperson said.It was the latest in a string of attacks and robberies of elderly people.The victims range in age from the mid-50s to the mid-80s. Most of the victims are women, and many of the attacks happened in elevators. France told the New York Times she had planned to give the $900 to relatives. But the other victims have lost other valuables, including food stamps, Medicaid cards, cell phones and even groceries. "He attacks from behind, therefore he's a coward," said council member Leticia James. "In the days after the attack, she was suffering from the physical symptoms of the attack. Subsequently she has been suffering from the emotional - psychological impact of the attack," said Claire France, Lillian's niece. In a building on E. 18th Street, a 76-year-old woman was similarly robbed in the lobby. She was standing by her mailbox, when she says she was attacked by a man who squeezed her neck and stole not only her purse, but her eyeglasses. Another victim, 73-year-old Helene Sargent, was attacked on July 25 on Bedford Avenue. Her granddaughter, Chelsea Phillips, says she was robbed of $300 on her stairway. "The man attacked her from the back, punching her in the face, bruising her face," she says.Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for the latest in this developing story.