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Police: Man Tried To Rape Woman, 81, In Lower Manhattan Building

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Thursday were searching for a suspect who allegedly tried to rape an 81-year-old woman in broad daylight her Lower Manhattan apartment building.

Around 12:50 p.m. Thursday, the suspect followed the woman into the elevator of her building on Beekman Street – an east-west street that runs from the South Street Seaport to Park Row near City Hall Park.

The suspect followed the victim as she got off the elevator, grabbed her, and forced her into a stairwell where he grabbed her pocketbook and took an undetermined amount of money, police said.

The suspect then sexually assaulted the woman and tried to rape her, police said. He then ran off.

The woman refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

The suspect was described as a black male around 20 years old, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds.

Police have released surveillance video of the suspect.

Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.

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