Police in New York City are on the hunt for a panhandler who is accused of raping a 19-year-old woman outside a Manhattan subway station after she refused to give him money.

According to the NYPD, the attack took place at around 7.30pm on Sunday on the Upper East Side.

Detectives say the unnamed suspect seen on surveillance video approached the victim as she was leaving the East 96th Street station and engaged her in conversation.

Have YOU seen him? The NYPD is looking for this man who is suspected of raping a 19-year-old woman on the Upper East Side on Sunday evening

The suspect first accosted the victim as she exited the East 96th Street Station (pictured)

'I'm homeless, can I have some money?' the man was quoted as asking the teenager, according to police sources talking to the New York Daily News.

When the young woman brushed past the man, he allegedly followed her to a secluded spot near East 95th Street and 3rd Avenue and raped her there.

The victim was later taken to an area hospital in stable condition.

The man told the teen he was homeless and asked her for some money, but she would not give him any

Police say the suspect followed the teen to a spot near East 95th Street and 3rd Avenue and raped her there

The NYPD on Thursday released surveillance video from inside the train station showing the suspect jumping a turnstile following the sexual assault.

He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and yellow shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.