Search On For Home Invader Who Held Woman At Knifepoint In Woodhaven, Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Queens neighborhood was unnerved Friday after a woman was stunned to find a burglar inside her house.
As CBS2's Dave Carlin reported, the Woodhaven, Queens woman wiped away tears as she was escorted to an ambulance after coming face-to-face with a stranger inside her house on Forest Parkway on Friday morning.
The suspect, whom investigators describe as white, skinny and 6 feet 2 inches tall, may have seen the woman's husband leave for work.
Police said the suspect used a back door, and then in the kitchen put a knife to the woman's throat and ordered her into a closet.
The woman was in the closet as the man left the house, bumping in to next-door neighbor Benny Ascencio on the walkway between the two houses around 8:45 a.m.
"I said, 'You're not supposed to be here,'" Ascensio said.
Ascencio said the man scurried through the gate with his head held low.
"I'm trying to see his face. But he had these sunglasses; he has a hoodie on, and then he took off," Ascensio said.
The family said it appeared that nothing was taken. The victim did not want to be taken to the hospital.
Later in the day, CBS2 talked to the woman. When CBS2's Carlin asked the woman if she was OK, she replied, "Yes, I'm OK."
Neighbors said it scares them the criminal was so brazen in daylight hours on a block that gets lots of foot traffic for a public library and a park.
"Very frightening, very frightening," said neighbor Edward Lord. "It's a good thing he didn't hurt her."
Even though it appears the home invader did not manage to take any personal property, those who know the family said he managed to steal their sense of security.
Family members said their home security system shows the suspect, but did not get a clear shot of his face.