Just call him the “Apologetic Bandit.”
Daniel Genis, 25, suspected in a string of knifepoint robberies throughout lower Manhattan, was nabbed Friday afternoon after he was spotted by one of his many alleged victims.
He is a teacher for the Princeton Review test-prep school in New Brunswick, N.J.
The month-long robbery spree included rip-offs on the Lower East Side, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Gramercy Park and the Financial District.
But, cops said, in many of the robberies, the man was unfailingly polite, often apologizing profusely to his victims.
“While he was robbing the victims, he would say things like, ‘I’m sorry to do this to you,’ or ‘Please forgive me. I need the money. I’m sorry,’ ” said a police source.
Most of the victims were women, but the oldest one was an 82- year-old man, police said.
The robber’s usual method was to follow his prey into a vestibule or lobby, confront the victim with a knife and demand money.
Still, in one incident, according to cops, a “courteous” Genis, after taking her cash, returned a wallet to a woman he robbed after she asked for it back, telling him that it contained all her identification.
The crime binge, while prolific, did not net the suspect a considerable amount of money.
In 18 robberies between July 20 and Aug. 21, Genis made off with only $700, police said.
Cops said the bizarre robber’s busiest day was his last day, Aug. 21, when he hit three victims in a row.
During the afternoon rush hour that day, he stalked an 81-year old man in the Lower East Side on East 3rd Street. An hour later, and only blocks away, he robbed a 27-year-old woman at 328 E. 19th St.
Later in the evening, the mugging spree continued when Genis returned to the Lower East Side at 85 Kenmare St., where he robbed a 41-year-old man.
Police said the one-man crime wave then ended abruptly, but did not know yesterday why Genis apparently dropped off their radar screen.
Genis has been picked out of police lineups by four of his victims, sources said.
He has been charged so far in four of the 18 robberies.
Genis, who graduated from New York University with a degree in math, was busted after one of his victims spotted him in Chinatown Friday and called cops.
He was arrested soon after on the Lower East Side.
The suspect’s parents, who live in Edgewater, N.J., expressed shock upon hearing of their son’s arrest.
“We’re all upset,” an uncle said outside the couple’s modest townhouse.
“We’re trying to figure out what happened,” said the uncle, who declined to give his name.
Cops said Genis has four prior arrests for drugs.