Man gropes woman in Greenwich Village apartment

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Police are looking for a man who broke into a woman's apartment in Greenwich Village while she slept.

The NYPD is hoping a surveillance picture of the suspect leads to an arrest.

Around 5 a.m. on Thursday, they say the suspect went into an apartment building at Hudson Street and West 10th Street, through the front door. He scaled the fire escape and entered an apartment on the second floor from a fire escape.

According to the New York City Police Department, the suspect then grabbed the buttocks of the victim as she was sleeping. She woke up and the suspect fled.

The reaction ranged from surprise to mostly disgust from residents along West 10th Street.

"It's just sad that that's humanity, that's just human nature and it's disgusting," said Greenwich Village resident Lily Campbell.

Police say the woman escaped and fortunately, she didn't have to run too far. The police precinct is on the very same block.

"But you don't think, sleeping in your own home, that you're at risk for some crazy guy coming in and groping her," said Greenwich Village worker Stephanie Brown. "I mean, she's lucky that she wasn't, you know, hurt."

As some in the neighborhood wonder what anyone can really do to protect themselves from such a random attack.

"We have childproof bars outside, but by law, I don't think we can have those on the fire escape for the reason of being able to leave," said a Greenwich Village resident named Allie.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 800-577-TIPS.