Cops are searching for a suspect who broke into an Upper East Side apartment early Saturday and sexually assaulted a 29-year-old woman before fleeing the scene.
The disturbing incident occurred around 3:40 a.m. near East 92nd Street and First Avenue, where the perpetrator gained access to the apartment and attacked the victim.
According to police sources, the woman was asleep in her second-floor apartment when the intruder woke her up and physically assaulted her.
The woman was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital and is in stable condition, according to the NYPD.
Surveillance footage and a photo of the suspect leaving the scene were released by the police on Sunday.
The individual was wearing blue jeans, a white shirt with a design on the front, and a jacket with a camouflage pattern.
Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS or at crimestopers.nypdonline.org.
This assault is part of an increase in sexual assaults in the New York City area this year compared to last year, including an attempted rape near a Greenwich Village subway station on Sept. 15.
The attacker followed the victim from the station, chased her, assaulted her, and made threats.
Citywide, reported rapes have increased by 13 percent this year compared to the same period last year, with 157 incidents reported compared to 124 in 2023.
The 19th Precinct, where the recent home invasion occurred, has reported three rapes this year compared to none in the same period last year.
“It’s unfortunate that’s where the city is right now,” said Heather, a local financial services employee. “People don’t feel safe, whether it’s sexual attacks or just random violence on the street. I don’t walk alone at night as often as I used to.”
Vera Aricha, 65, a resident of the Upper West Side, also expressed concerns about safety. “I don’t take the subway,” she said. “If possible, I’ll take a bus instead. I avoid going out at night. My kids use Uber. We try to avoid walking at night. I don’t think people are happy with this situation.”
