STUY TOWN — A woman was beaten unconscious by a robber and then awoke to find her underwear around her knees in Gramercy on Saturday, police said.
The 30-year-old victim was on the sidewalk in front of 329 E. 18th St. between First and Second avenues at about 2:20 a.m., when a man grabbed her in a chokehold from behind and dragged her to the ground, according to authorities.
She tried to fight back, but he repeatedly punched her in the face, knocking her out, police said.
When she came to, the suspect had fled, her underwear was around her knees and her cellphone was missing, police said.
It wasn't immediately clear whether she was sexually assaulted, and whether it happened inside the Stuyvesant Town complex or just outside of it.
She was treated at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, police said.
A surveillance video shows the suspect carrying a piece of paper as he enters a building in Stuyvesant Town, according to a police spokeswoman.
It was not immediately clear at what time the suspect was on Stuy Town property.
(NYPD)
The suspect is about 25 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs roughly 150 pounds, police said.
He was last seen with a beard, wearing a black T-shirt, dark pants and a yellow metal chain around his neck, police said.
In a note sent to residents of Stuy Town and Peter Cooper Village, Rick Hayduk, general manager of the complex, asked residents to be vigilant and reminded them not to hold doors open for strangers.
Stuy Town security is working with the NYPD to investigate the attack and the suspect's presence at the complex, according to Hayduk.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).
