Police Searching For 2 Men In Bronx Home Invasion, Sex Assault
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Scammers forced their way into a Bronx woman's apartment this week and sexually assaulted her in front of her toddler, police said.
As CBS2's Alice Gainer reported, police said the assailants were posing as Con Edison utility workers.
Crime scene investigators were seen removing evidence from the apartment on Magenta Street in Olinville well into the night, CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported. Neighbors were disgusted as they learned of the assault police said took place.
"I'm shocked, I'm really shocked by that," one resident said. "For somebody to break into somebody's home, that's bad that's really bad. "
Around 1:30 p.m. Monday, police were called to the building where they found a 26-year-old woman tied up inside. Her toddler daughter was with her as well.
Police said two men posing as Con Ed workers had forced their way into the home when she opened the door, sexually assaulted the woman and then robbed her.
"They grabbed me, covered my mouth," the woman told Burrell in Spanish. "Then they tied me to a table, then they hit me in the head and mouth."
Both of the men were wearing blue latex gloves at the time, the woman said.
She said one of the men took a knife from the kitchen while the other used a cord to bound her to a coffee table. At that point, police said the suspect sexually assaulted the woman.
A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she heard the woman screaming from the apartment, pleading for help.
"She calls for me in Spanish so I go to see and let her know I'm there, can she open the door and she tells me no she can't," the neighbor said. "She was incapacitated. They had her bound, so then I called the police."
It's not clear how long the woman and her child were inside the apartment with the men. The suspects took off with $50, police said.
"To have a child see what happened to her mother, that's traumatizing," another neighbor said.
A day after the attack, the main entrance doors to the five-story apartment building remain broken and unlocked, 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reported.
"Ninety percent of the time, they're open. Everybody can just come in and out," one resident said.
Residents are now uneasy and unsure who to trust with many now thinking twice before opening their doors to strangers.
"I'm a mom with children as well," the woman who didn't want to be identified said. "And it was just terrifying."
Other neighbors were likewise so frightened that they did not want to appear on camera. But Susan Scale, who has lived in the building for 33 years, said the scammers come around a lot.
"Every other evening or so, they come late evening -- like 6, 7 o'clock in the night," Scale said.
She said the attack is frightening, but she already knows what not to do.
"I don't pay them no mind, because I'm not opening my door to them," Scale said.
Con Ed released a statement Tuesday saying all employees carry identification cards with their photo, name and the company's name and logo.
The utility said if you see identification and still have doubts about the person's legitimacy, call 1-800-75CONED (1-800-752-6633) before letting the person in your home or business.
Anyone who suspects a person is falsely claiming to be a Con Ed employee should call their local police department.
