The Gastonia Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect with the help of a sketch released Tuesday in a burglary and sexual assault case.
According to police, back on January 2, a man dressed in dark clothing and wearing a black toboggan hat made entry into an apartment in the 1500 block of East Hudson Boulevard through an unlocked sliding glass door.
According to investigators, the man sexually assaulted the woman and ran off before police arrived.
A resident at the apartment complex, who asked not to be identified out of fear for her safety, said she noticed more police officers patrolling the property.
She said she wasn't aware of the incident until speaking with an NBC Charlotte reporter.
"There's a lot of single mothers that are here so that's a big thing for me," she said. "That's alarming that we don't even know."
Gastonia Police spokeswoman Donna Lahser said as detectives search for the suspect, they want people to lock all their doors, including sliding glass doors.
She said sliding glass doors should be locked using a charlie bar or other sliding glass door security bar, and not a broomstick.
"We obviously want to get him into custody," Lahser said. "So whatever we can to make that happen, we want to do."
Police are asking anyone who can identify the suspect to call detectives at 704-866-6880. Any suspicious persons or prowlers should be reported immediately to police at 704-866-3300.