Brooklyn Apartment Building Door Left Unlocked For Sabbath Allows Man To Follow Woman Inside, Attack Her
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man was able to follow a woman into a Crown Heights, Brooklyn, building and attack her because the front door was left unlocked for the Sabbath.
CBS2's Scott Rapoport reported that surveillance video shows the 24-year-old victim walking into the lobby of the apartment building on President Street, while a man was following her last Saturday night. As the suspect made his way in the door, he pulled up his hood to cover his face and continued into the building.
Police said there was then a struggle and the woman dropped her cellphone. They say the man picked it up, took $5 from her and ran off. Sources said the woman is physically fine, but shaken.
"Yes, it's scary because it could've been me," Gladys Threadgill, a Crown Heights resident, said. "Even one of your children, if you had children."
Residents said the attacker was able to get into the building because the door is left unlocked on the Sabbath as observant Jews who live in the building don't use electronics.
"I think it's real crazy because we have cameras in here. I wouldn't think someone would do something like that," Najee, a building resident, said.
Building residents said more security is needed in the area.
"It's not so unexpected in this neighborhood. There needs to be more of a police presence to maintain the safety of the people in the community," one resident said.
Police are still searching for the attacker.