Neighborhood On Edge After Alleged Rape On Upper East Side
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A 27-year-old woman is hospitalized after an alleged rape by a man entering her apartment through the window.
Screaming from the woman's ground floor apartment on East 90th Street at at 5:15 a.m. left residents terrified.
"I'm just petrified. I'm scared for my life," neighbor Stephanie told CBS 2's Dave Carlin.
Stephanie said the commotion was in the unit right next door, on the other side her bedroom wall.
"It was loud. I heard it two times and I woke up cause I'm a light sleeper and I heard it two times," she said. "Yes, two screams."
Building Superintendent Ben Midulla said the victim lives alone and is from Texas.
"She's a very nice girl. I mean she just moved in and she's a sweetheart. I hope everything's fine with her, you know? When did she move in? Maybe a month ago not even," he said.
"He must have pulled the ladder down he must have had something that helped him go in there," Stephanie said.
Police checked the fire escape and ladder, and looked at surveillance video in buildings on the block and businesses at the Second Avenue intersection.
"It's a really, really friendly neighborhood. It's a bad thing that should happen to anyone," said Oliver Gomez, a doorman for a nearby building.
News of the alleged rape has neighbors thinking about security.
"You just have to be aware and just lock your windows," said resident Karlene Dormer.
"I'm probably gonna have my brother or boyfriend be with me at all times," Stephanie said.
Police said the suspect is 20 to 25-years-old, about 5'7" with medium complexion, dark hair, and wearing a white shirt and black pants.
What security precautions should residents in the neighborhood take? Sound off in our comments section below…
