Hunt for sex attack burglar

8:59am Monday 15th October 2007

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A 58-YEAR-OLD woman was sexually assaulted by a burglar as she slept in bed.

She woke up as the masked raider was attacking her at her home in St George's Crescent, Walkden.

The man, who had broken in through an insecure window, then fled with some of her possessions, including a mobile phone and cash.

Police have warned householders to make sure their homes are secure at night.

The incident happened at about 5.30am on Friday.

The burglar searched all the rooms in the house before assaulting the woman in her bedroom.

He fled when she woke up. She then called the police.

The woman was not injured but has been left traumatised.

Det Insp Joanne Rawlinson, of Salford CID, said: "I would like to re-assure people that incidents of this nature are rare.

"However, I would urge local residents to be on their guard, ensure that all doors and windows are securely locked and to report any suspicious incidents to the police.

"I would ask anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact us, similarly anyone who may have seen a male acting suspiciously in the area.

"Other incidents of a similar nature may have occurred and gone unreported to the police. I would ask that those people call us."

Walkden councillor Stanley Witkowski has urged local people to be vigilant until the offender is caught.

He said: "This is a shocking and unusual incident - something you would expect to see on Crimewatch and something that has not happened in this area before.

"This is a tightly-knit community so anybody around at that time would have noticed a stranger. I am sure the police will do everything to catch this man, but the community can help them."

Anyone with information is asked to call Salford CID on 0161 856 5351 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.