New York City’s police commissioner says detectives have identified the suspect in a string of violent robberies targeting people of Asian descent.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Monday on Fox television’s “Good Day New York” that police believe Jason Commisso has been responsible for eight attacks and robberies since Jan. 17.

He called the attacks “vicious.” He said noses and cheeks were broken, and money and cell phones were stolen.

Kelly said the suspect has over 30 prior arrests.

Police released a photo of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Police say the suspect follows his victims into elevators and assaults them repeatedly by punching them in the face and head before robbing them.

Incident#1: Thursday, January 17, 2013, at approximately 0800 hours, F/A/44 was followed into the elevator, assaulted by the suspect who fled with the victim’s bag that contained several credit cards, a driver license and keys. Victim sustained injuries to the left side of her face.

Incident#2: Saturday, January 19, 2013 at approximately 1111 hours, F/A/46 was approached by the suspect who struck her on the left side of her face and removed her purse that contained money, credit cards, a driver license and the victim’s iPhone. The victim sustained injuries to her face.

Incident#3: Monday, January 21, 2013 at approximately 1427 hours, M/A/64 was followed into the elevator by the suspect who punched him numerous times. The suspect removed the victim’s wallet and id card. The victim sustained a broken nose and a swollen lip.

Incident#4: Wednesday, January 23,2013 at approximately 0600 hours, M/A/46 was followed by the suspect into the elevator. The suspect punched the victim in the face several times removing his cellphone and wallet.

Incident#5: Wednesday, January 23,2013 at approximately 0830 hours, M/A/62, suspect followed the victim into the elevator, punched the victim in the face and removed the victim’s cellphone and wallet.

Incident#6: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at approximately 0830 hours, F/A/47 was followed by the suspect into the elevator and punched repeatedly. The suspect removed her purse containing miscellaneous items.

Incident#7: On Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 1900hrs, the victim, a F/A/27, was followed into an elevator of her apartment building in the Upper East Side of Manhattan by the suspect. Once inside the elevator the suspect assaulted the victim, removed her purse & iPhone and then fled the scene. The victim, who received lacerations to her face and nose, was removed to Cornell Hospital in stable condition.

Incident#8: On Saturday, January 26, 2013, at 1020 hrs, the victim, a M/A/57, was followed into the elevator of his apartment building on East 97 Street by the suspect. Once inside the elevator the suspect assaulted the victim, removed his cell phone, wallet containing credit/debit cards and USC. The suspect then fled the scene in an unknown direction. The victim suffered a broken nose and was removed to Metropolitan Hospital in stable condition.

(Dov Gordon / AP)