Police searching for carjacking suspect who posed as sexual assault victim

WALLKILL (WABC) -- Police are searching for a carjacking suspect who initially posed as a sexual assault victim.

The incident happened in a parking lot of a Wal-Mart in Wallkill on Friday night.

A woman approached another woman who was sitting in her car, and first asked for money, police say. The suspect claimed to be the victim of a sexual assault, and asked to use the victim's cell phone. She then pulled a gun and carjacked the victim's car.

"You don't want to play around with anybody who has a gun," said shopper David Morgan.

Morgan, staring at a gun, said he would do the same and give up the car. He found the event highly unusual.

"That's a little bit surprising, because not too much like that happens up here, it's pretty quiet," Morgan adds.

The 35-year-old victim was not injured, but the suspect then drove out of the parking lot and headed down Route 211. Where Route 211 connects with Route 17, the suspect crashed into a tow truck, and then drove off in the car.

The car is described as a 2009 Gray Hyundai Accent with New York license plate 'FPR-5773' and possible front-end damage.

The suspect is described as a white female in her late 30s or early 40s with a red curly wig and possible red hair underneath. She is said to be anywhere from 5'4"-5'6", heavy set, and was wearing jeans and a black leather jacket.

"Everyone's vulnerable to it. Like I could be just driving down the road and anyone could carjack me. It's pretty insane," says area resident Luke Pikoulas.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the town of Wallkill Police Department at 845-692-6757