Police are looking for a man they say followed a 20-year-old woman into her Stuyvesant Town apartment building and tried to rape her in an elevator early Friday.
Authorities say the woman screamed and fought the man, who ran off around 4 a.m.
Police released surveillance video of the suspect walking into the elevator, then fleeing. The video shows him shimmy down a tree outside the building before running off down the street.
Neighbors say they normally feel safe in Stuy Town and think the attack was an anomaly.
"I'm surprised, I always feel safe in this neighborhood," said Meryl Greulich. "Stuy Town feels very safe."
David Moin said, "I think this type of thing can happen anywhere, but I don't think it's prevalent in this neighborhood."
But until the suspect is arrested, newer residents in the lower Manhattan development say they plan to be more cautious.
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"Definitely make sure doors are closed behind me," said Jen Singh, who's felt "uneasy" after hearing about the assault. "I'm not letting anyone else come in when I use the access card."
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
