MANHATTAN — A mugger followed an 81-year-old woman into her Financial District home to steal her purse at midday Thursday and then tried to rape her in a stairwell, police said.
The suspect, who can be seen in surveillance video released by investigators, followed the woman into her Beekman Street apartment building about 12:50 p.m. He rode up an elevator with her before forcing her into a stairwell, according to the NYPD.
He grabbed her purse, which contained cash, and attempted to rape her, police said.
The man fled the building and can be seen in the footage jogging down the street wearing a blue hoodie and gray pants, according to the NYPD.
He is believed to be about 20 years old, 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, police said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
