Manayunk woman hurt by home invader

An unidentified 74-year-old woman suffered a frightening home invasion and attack at her Manayunk residence on Monday morning.

According to city police, the Ogle Street resident answered a knock at her front door just after 9:30 a.m. The man outside claimed he was a workman employed down the street, and asked to come inside so that he could use the resident’s phone.

Once inside the victim’s home, the man demanded money from her. When she insisted that she had none in the house, he used his hands and then a dog leash to choke her, and forced her to go upstairs. Once in the victim’s bedroom, she watched as he went through all the drawers in the room. He found a pellet gun, and then fled the house with it.

According to police, no related incidents have been reported and the suspect is still at large.

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The victim, who suffered bruises to her face as well as 14 stitches to her mouth due to the choking, was treated at Roxborough Hospital and released.

In the wake of this crime, Officer Christine O’Brien urged residents to err on the side of caution in dealing with strangers.

“You absolutely should not do it,” she says of admitting any stranger who asks to come in.

The assailant was described as a 35-40 year-old black male between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall. At the time of the attack, he was wearing black pants, a black jacket with a white stripe on the sleeve, and a black hat.

Anyone with information about this crime should call the Northwest Detective Division at 215-686-3353.

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