Robber Attacks Woman Outside Harlem Home, Police Say

HARLEM, NY — The NYPD is trying to identify a man wanted in connection with a robbery and attempted attack in Harlem, police said.

The unknown man is accused of stealing a cellphone and grabbing at a woman outside of her apartment building in two separate incidents, police said. Both crimes were committed in recent months, police said.

On June 23 the man started a conversation with an 18-year-old man on the corner of Broadway and West 116 Street, police said. During the conversation the man asked to borrow the 18-year-old's cellphone, and after being handed the phone the man started walking to a nearby train station, police said. When the victim asked for the phone back the man pulled out a piece of glass and said "go back or I'll stab you," and fled the scene, police said.

On the night of July 3 the same man approached a 34-year-old woman as she entered her home at West 122 Street and Amsterdam Avenue and grabbed at her side, police said. The man's grab caused the woman's shirt to rip, allowing her to run inside her building and avoid further attack, police said. The woman was not physically injured, police said.

The suspect is described as a man in his 30s who stands about 5-foot-10, weighs about 170 pounds and is bald. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt with stripes, dark colored jeans and black sneakers, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Photo by NYPD