Caught On Camera: Woman Threatened, Pistol-Whipped At L.I. Storage Facility

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A frightening attack was caught on camera in New Hyde Park, Long Island, last week.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, a woman was threatened by a gunman and beaten bloody around 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, inside a storage facility.

A quiet residential street dead-ends at the site of the traumatic pistol whipping and violent armed robbery.

Police said the employee of 123 Storage, a neighborhood storage company at 119 S. 3rd St. in New Hyde Park, did everything right. Still, she was attacked.

"She was hit over the head with the gun," said the victim's boss, Gail Cohen. "Listen, it could have been a whole lot worse. Thank God it wasn't."

Cameras were rolling as the dramatic scene unfolded. Surveillance video clearly showed the 33-year-old Nassau County victim trying to reason with two desperate suspects, who were waving a black revolver and threatening her life.

Moments later, the duo is seen forcing the woman into a back room, nearly knocking her unconscious with the butt of the gun. Afterward, with her head bleeding and holding a white towel to her head, the woman is seen stumbling back to the office and trying to placate the robbers demanding cash.

Co-workers were left unnerved by the incident.

"There's no money here," said one man who declined to provide a name. "We don't do any business in cash. We do all check, credit card."

The co-worker said he did not know what the robbers were thinking.

"We have a ton of cameras. They were looking right into this one -- looking into it," the employee said. "She pointed to it -- 'You're on camera.'"

Police said they hope someone recognizes the crooks – one with glasses and a gray hooded sweat shirt, the other heavy-set with black clothing – who burst into the storage facility just before closing. The suspects were apparently unaware that there was no safe with money and no stored cash.

The well-lighted property filled with security cameras eventually was a deterrent – but not before they robbed the young victim of her cellphone, wallet, and $60 in personal cash.

The suspects fled on foot down Third Street toward the Jericho Turnpike.

"We're a small family-owned business and take pride in our facility. It is spotless; neat and clean; secure," Cohen said.

She said there are security cameras "all over the place."

"Unfortunately, this is the world we live in," Cohen said. "She's on the mend. I expect her hopefully back even as early as this week."

The victim required stitches and was back home recuperating late Monday. She said she wants to return to work once she is given the medical clearance.