Thief robs and sexually assaults 78-year old Brooklyn woman

A 78-year old Brooklyn woman was robbed and sexually assaulted by an unknown male assailant early Thursday morning, the New York Daily News reports.

The elderly woman awoke to the sounds of the intruder at 5:30am in her East New York apartment. Despite handing him some loot, including a couple cellular phones, in a desperate attempt to coerce him to leave, the intruder attacked and sexually abused the woman.

Later, while the woman was being treated for her injures, the thief called the woman’s son in an attempt to sell back the stolen cell phones. The family worked with the police to set up an exchange in Brownsville. Unfortunately, the suspect was able to slip away from authorities.

UPDATE: The New York Daily News is reporting that the unidentified assailant was aprehended by police early Friday on Lott Ave. in Brownsville.