What to Know
- An attacker went into an apartment in Washington Heights Wednesday morning and tried to rape a woman inside
- He fled the scene after family members heard her screaming, the NYPD said
- Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS
A stranger sneaked into a Manhattan apartment, hid in a woman's closet, ambushed her and tried to rape her — but fled the scene after family members heard her screaming, the NYPD said.
The man went into the apartment in Washington Heights around 5:15 a.m. on Wednesday, through a door that had been left ajar, police said.
The woman's family said the attacker hid inside a closet after he entered.
When the 43-year-old woman heard her dog barking, she went to the front door to investigate, according to police.
That's when the attacker grabbed the woman, threw her onto a bed and tried to take off her clothes, the NYPD said.
Family members said the woman's young son, who had been sleeping in the room with her, tried to fight the attacker off, but the attacker shoved him to the ground, leaving him with bruises on his back and side.
Local
The woman's daughter and her husband, who were sleeping in the next room, heard the woman screaming and responded, they said — at which point the attacker fled the scene.
The male, who stands between 5-foot-8 and 6 feet, was last seen wearing a black jacket, dark pants and a grey hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
