Elderly Harlem Woman Followed Into Home, Robbed: Police, Video

HARLEM, NY — A person followed an elderly woman into her Harlem apartment in order to snatch her purse and hundreds in cash, according to police, who released video of the brazen theft.

The May 9 robbery happened shortly after 7 p.m., as the 76-year-old woman walked to her apartment near the corner of West 144th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard.

Video shared by police shows the woman walking slowly down a hallway toward her front door as the unidentified suspect waits patiently behind her. When the woman opens the door, the person follows her inside, then emerges and jogs quickly toward the building's exist, the video shows.

Police say the suspect, who entered the apartment without permission, made off with a purse containing $350 in cash and various credit and debit cards. No one was injured, police said.

It was unclear if the suspect and victim knew each other, but the video appears to show them interacting briefly before entering the apartment.

Police released video of the incident on Wednesday and asked anyone with information to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). People can also submit tips online or on Twitter, @NYPDTips.