Police: Woman Raped During Home Invasion In Rittenhouse Square
By Matt Rivers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Police are investigating a sexual assault in Rittenhouse Square. Officers say the victim was followed home and raped in her own house.
Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male, about 5 foot 7, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans. Police were on scene on the 1900 block of Spruce Street for most of the day Saturday. The suspect is still at large.
The 26-year-old female victim is a doctor at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. According to authorities, the suspect followed her home after she left a nearby bar.
When she arrived at her home, the suspect attacked her from behind, grabbed her neck, and forced her to open the door. Once inside, she was sexually assaulted.
After the suspect left the victim called the police to report the crime. Neighbors in Rittenhouse Square were shocked to hear the news.
"It seems really safe," said Takahiro Sato, a resident in the neighborhood, "that's why I'm really surprised to hear it happened here. You don't expect something like this to happen in Rittenhouse."
"It's not safe to walk around by myself around here after coming home from the bar," said Crystal Kraft. "You feel safe in this area, but you always have to be aware that you may not be."
Police are looking through surveillance cameras in the area, and they are looking through footage to determine what they can discover about the suspect.
Stay with CBS Philly for continuing coverage on this developing story.
