MANHATTAN — A 6-foot-9 man forced his way into a woman's Washington Heights home and raped her late Tuesday night, police said.
The suspect pushed his way into the 20-year-old victim's apartment at about 11:30 p.m., the NYPD said. After the attack, the man fled the Broadway and West 163rd Street apartment on foot, police said.
Police sources said that the man followed the woman into the building's elevator immediately before the attack occurred, although it appears the two did not know each other.
The victim was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in stable condition, police said.
The suspect was described as being 20 to 25 years old and was wearing black pants and a white shirt with dark stripes, according to the NYPD.
Tenants of the building where the rape occurred said the residence isn't secure.
"I don't feel safe now," said a 64-year-old woman who has lived there since the 1980s.
"The building used to have security guards 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Now it just has cameras, but a camera isn't enough."
Police released a surveillance video taken in the building's hallways and elevator that shows the man casually walking into the building carrying something in his right hand.
Another tenant said the building's front door is always open.
"Anyone can get in," said the woman, 57. "We don't feel safe anymore."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
