The victim was walking alone at 4:35 a.m. when she was attacked and raped between 43-38 and 43-32 47th Sts. near Queens Boulevard, said Officer Louis Cruz, a…
By Betsy Scheinbart
A 32-year-old woman was hit on the head and raped in an alley in Sunnyside Sunday, police said.
The victim was walking alone at 4:35 a.m. when she was attacked and raped between 43-38 and 43-32 47th Sts. near Queens Boulevard, said Officer Louis Cruz, a police spokesman.
The alley between the two joined four-story apartment building begins with a descending flight of stairs, which were covered with trash bags, loose garbage and toys Sunday, making them almost impassable. The alley leads to the back of the apartment complexes, which have graffiti on the lower segments of their front walls.
Oscar Franco, who lives on the block, said teenagers use the alleys to smoke pot and fight at night. He said he and other tenants have asked their superintendents to put up a gate to close the areas.
There are four such alleys on the block and the one where the rape occurred is only one building down from a nursery school.
“What happened last night was really terrible,” Franco said. “I didn’t hear anything, but I wish I had. I would have called the police right away.”
The victim described her attacker as a male Hispanic in his 30s. She was treated at Elmhurst Hospital. At press time, no arrests had been made, leaving some in the neighborhood uneasy.
“I thought it was a safe area,” said Lisa Siglain, whose father recently bought an apartment down the street. “But this is not the only rape I have heard of. I think it raises concerns. I don’t walk alone hear after midnight.”
This was the sixth rape to occur in the 108th precinct this year. The precinct covers part of Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside.
The rape took place less than half a block from Queens Boulevard and close to the 46th Street stop on the No. 7 train. The boulevard is full of activity during the day as stores, restaurants and delis line the street.
Sean Gahdome and Sandra Min recently moved to the area and fell safe in their immediate neighborhood. Min said she fells the area west of 50th Street and south of Queens Boulevard is less safe, but was not worried about her block until now.
Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 138.
