CHICAGO — Chicago police are searching for a man who forced his way into a home in the Auburn Gresham neighbourhood on the city's South Side on Friday morning, robbed a 19-year-old woman who was home alone, and sexually assaulted her while armed with a handgun, police said. The department has released a surveillance photo of the suspect and is asking the public for help identifying him.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

The attack happened at about 10:35 a.m. on Friday, November 6, in the 7700 block of South Racine Avenue, according to a Chicago Police Department community alert. Police said the woman was alone inside the residence when the man forced entry, robbed her and sexually assaulted her at gunpoint before fleeing on foot. The woman has not been named, and police have not announced any arrest.

The man police are looking for

40–55Suspect's estimated age (years)
5 ft 5 in – 5 ft 8 inSuspect's height
10:35 a.m.Time of the attack, Friday, Nov. 6
$1,000Crime Stoppers reward offered

Investigators described the suspect as a man between 40 and 55 years old, standing 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8. He was last seen wearing a blue hoodie, a red baseball cap, a white medical mask, black pants and red shoes with white laces. Police released a surveillance photo of the man as part of the alert, and Area 2 detectives are leading the investigation.

Crime Stoppers appeal

"An individual committing this violent and senseless act in someone's home is deeply disturbing. No one should ever have to experience this kind of terror, especially in the safety of their own home. Even the smallest piece of information could make a significant difference in this investigation." — Paul Rutherford, Executive Director, Cook County Crime Stoppers

Building owner says police took hours to reach the home

The case has also raised a question about the police response itself. The owner of the rental building told CBS 2 Chicago that it took police hours to respond after the attack was reported. That claim comes from the building owner in CBS 2's reporting; the Chicago Police Department has not addressed the response-time claim in the reports published so far, and Awaaz Punjab is reporting it as the owner's account, not as an established fact. What is confirmed by police is the crime itself, the suspect description and the public appeal for identification.

What happens next

Anyone who recognises the man in the surveillance photo, or who has any information about the attack, is asked to contact Area 2 detectives at 312-747-8271, or to submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using reference number JK480065. Tips can also go to Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-7867. The $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Auburn Gresham is a residential neighbourhood on Chicago's South Side, and the 7700 block of South Racine Avenue is a street of homes and two-flat buildings near West 77th Street. Police have not said whether they believe the suspect knew the victim or whether the attack was random, and they have not linked the case to any other incident. The investigation is continuing, and police say even a small detail — a sighting of a man matching the description in the blue hoodie and red cap on Friday morning — could help detectives identify him.