The Post has learned there was a third student at Manhattan College who woke up to a man in her apartment bedroom –– a hair-raising 2016 incident that is creepily reminiscent of two reports of break-ins made by students in recent weeks.
The victim –– who was a student at the time at the Bronx-based private liberal arts college –– reported to police back on Sept. 16, 2016 that she awoke to a man sitting on her window-ledge staring at her while she slept in the ground-floor room of her apartment building, police confirmed.
Her roommate, who asked to be called Xoe, now a graduate student, recalled the incident.
“His feet were hanging in her window and she screamed,” she told The Post. “He jumped out when she screamed and tried to go in the living room window for God knows what reason.”
No arrest was made following the victim’s police report, according to cops.
Their apartment building is on West 238th St. near Waldo Ave. in Fieldston across the street from Overlook Manor dorms where two students made separate reports after alleged break-ins.
They allege a man was in their room in the middle of the night –– one of the victims reported she was even sexually assaulted, police said
“We think it’s the same guy that’s doing it now,” Widlund speculated.
“He’s doing the same thing watching girls sleep. The school knew and public safety told people, but they couldn’t do anything for us.”
Students say that they have felt safer on campus since the enforcement visitor check-ins –– which students say were implemented at the start of the school year –– but a sense of fear among the student body remains.
“People need to lock their doors. It’s pretty naïve in my opinion to not do that,” said student Rachel Erin, 22.
“Security told us to lock our doors. Starting this school year, we have to sign any visitors in, even if they go to school but don’t live in the building,” said Donald Hoffman, 19. But whether it keeps them safe, he says, “that just doesn’t really work.”
“It’s kind of a sketchy area.”
In a statement on Sunday, Manhattan College’s public safety responded to these concerns.
“Our students’ safety and security are our highest priority at Manhattan College,” the statement read.
“Please note that there is a Manhattan College Public Safety officer stationed in the lobby of Overlook Manor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In response to the reports received, our Public Safety and Residence Life staff has increased its presence in Overlook Manor, and in all of our residence halls, among other security precautions around campus.”
No arrests have been made in connection to these three incidents.