The streets of the Village are narrow and dark. It is, of course, what gives this area its character, but on Sunday morning, it provided an opportunity for a rapist.
Investigators say the suspect waited in the doors of a Catholic school on Bleeker Street that morning. He attacked and punched one woman twice, she screamed and both times fought him off.
About 15 minutes later, the attacker targeted another woman, she was able to the kick the man and get away.
"I've lived in a bunch of different neighborhoods in New York, and this one, I just feel, is the friendliest," a girl named Molly told us. "People will say hi to you in the streets, make conversation when you're waiting in line at a cafe, and it's really scary to think that."
The attacker is described as Hispanic, in his 20s, about 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds. He was wearing a dark baseball cap and a pullover sweater with red stripes on the sleeves. Police are urging women to be extra careful and to avoid walking alone, especially at night.
"It's very quiet, but as a native New Yorker, that's also sort of what puts you antennae up," another woman said.
Molly says she has always felt comfortable walking alone at night.
"I do it, and it's not that late tonight," Molly said. "But cabs are so expensive that when I go out late at night, I generally do walk part of the way alone."
Police are working with surveillance video from the school. They were also surprised to hear that several people in the neighborhood heard the women's screams but did nothing about it.
Anyone with information is urged to call police.