Elderly Bronx Assault Victim Afraid To Leave Home After Violent Incident

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The victim of a Bronx robbery and assault suspect spoke out Friday, saying the experience has left her in fear.

Anna Martorel, 80, was beaten in the eye, cheek, mouth and chin on Wednesday by a suspect that is accused of trying to steal money from at least 4 other elderly women.

"I've never had nothing like this. I'm very nervous. I'm afraid to go out. I'm afraid to open my door," Martorel told CBS 2's John Slattery.

The five violent incidents have all occurred over the last two weeks. Martorel was attacked just after she went into her building and after the suspect had helped her carry her groceries up the stairs. However, when they got to the door, the woman realized that the suspect had already picked her pocket of $18.

"When I called my neighbor, he punched me in the eye and face. Then when the neighbor's son came out, he ran," Martorel said.

The woman's next door neighbor, Gerard Figueroa, said when he heard screaming, he looked through the peep hole in the door.

"I see this guy just pounding, pounding," Figueroa said.

Police did release surveillance video of the suspect on Thursday night, which shows him running away from neighbors, who tried to catch him.

"When I looked at her face, I was like 'wow, I got to get him' and I tried as best as I could to go after him," Figueroa said.

Police continue to actively look for the man, and have warned residents at senior centers to be aware of the danger.