NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Police are searching for a suspect who they say tried to rape a woman at knifepoint during a robbery at a Verizon store in East Harlem over the weekend.
The NYPD released images Tuesday of the suspect they're after in Sunday's robbery at East 108th Street and Madison Avenue.
A woman was working at the Total by Verizon when the man entered and chatted her up.
He was friendly at first but "flew off the handle" when she wouldn't let him touch her, a store employee told the Daily News.
He chased her to a back room, thew her to the ground and threatened her with a knife as he attempted to rape her, police said.
Her screams reportedly scared him off, and he fled the store with three cellphones worth $1,000, according to police.
The victim went to a hospital by private means.
The suspect is believed to be in his 20s to early 30s.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.