Criminal afoot in the nabe

Fortunately, he's "bungling."
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Cops are hunting for a bungling teenage mugger preying on women in Morningside Heights and Harlem, police said.

The thug threatens his victims by telling them, "Give me your money!" and gesturing as if he has a gun - although several of his targeted victims have not taken his demands seriously, ignoring him and walking away.

"He's not very good at what he does," said one police official familiar with the spree.

The suspect, who is active in the early evening, first struck at 8 p.m. on Oct. 12 when he approached a 28-year-old woman in front of 415 W. 120th St. and demanded money. She walked away.

He next struck five minutes later in front of 425 W. 121st St., when he approached another 28-year- old, who also ignored him.

On Oct. 18, between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m., he successively approached four separate people in front of 512 W. 11th St.

A 28-year-old woman walked away, but a 43-year-old man felt threatened enough to hand over $5. A 53-year-old woman then gave the suspect $60, but when a fourth unidentified victim also walked away, he felt prompted to yell, "I'm only kidding."

He last struck Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. in front of 110 Morningside Drive, threatening a 21-year-old woman, who forked over $40.

He's described as 14 to 16 years old, with close-cropped hair, weighing about 140 pounds.