Woman Surprises Intruder in Tribeca Apartment

The 39-story Independence Plaza tower at 40 Harrison Street where police say a tenant walked in on an intruder on Oct. 14. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib

A woman, 33, walked in on an intruder in her Independence Plaza apartment at 40 Harrison St. in Tribeca around 1 p.m. last Wednesday, Oct. 14, then apparently foiled his attempt to rob her. 

Police say the would-be robber, described as a man in his 50s and a stranger to the tenant, demanded the woman's property and unsuccessfully tried to take her purse. Then, according to an NYPD spokesman, he “just leaves the apartment.” 

First Precinct detectives are investigating the incident, including how the man entered the apartment. Security cameras are installed in the elevators of the 39-story building, but if there is video of the intruder, police have yet to release it.