EAST ELMHURST — A woman collecting cans was raped early Friday after a man lured her behind a home with the promise of more recyclables, police said.
The 40-year-old woman was walking on 83rd Street, off 31st Avenue, just before 1 a.m Friday when a man on a bike approached her, police said.
She had been collecting cans and bottles on the street and the suspect — who police said is in his 20s or 30s — told her there were more cans behind a home.
When she walked into the backyard with the suspect he took out a knife and raped her, police said.
He fled north on 83rd Street.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
Neighbor Herman Guzman said he was shocked to hear about the early-morning rape, since he has two young women renting in his home.
"It's frightening for me," he said. "You worry about anybody's safety, your neighbors."
