BROOKLYN — A man broke into an 82-year-old woman's Sheepshead Bay home and held her captive at knifepoint for three hours Monday before he raped her, stole an umbrella and clothing and fled, police said.
"This is an incredibly heinous crime that no woman should endure," said NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton.
The suspect, who can be seen in surveillance footage, slipped past the woman as she swept the street in front of her home about 1:40 a.m. and lay in wait in her bedroom, NYPD officials said.
Police did not provide a location for the attack.
The woman re-entered her home and lay down in bed, police said.
The suspect, who is in his 20s and may live in the area, emerged and suddenly pulled a knife on her while demanding money, police said.
She didn't have any money to give, police said.
Instead, the suspect, who is about 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, stayed in the apartment until 4 a.m., when he raped her, police said.
The suspect ransacked the apartment, snatching an umbrella along with a bag of clothes and fled, police said.
The woman was evaluated at Kings County Hospital, police said.
Police said she was "very strong" and has been helping detectives by giving very detailed information about the attack.
Police said that the woman was able to avoid even further harm by using her wits against the attacker, but they didn't explain further.
He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with writing on the front, gray sweat pants and Converse sneakers with white laces, police said.
The suspect is an "extremely violent, vicious individual," Bratton said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
