Investigators believe the suspect, who was caught on camera hopping over a subway station turnstile, may be homeless.
Police say he followed the 19-year-old victim from the East 96th Street subway station Sunday night.
He asked the woman for money before following her to a secluded area, where he raped her.
The victim was treated at an area hospital and is in stable condition.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
Tips can also be submitted by visiting the CrimeStoppers website or Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are kept confidential.
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