Video released of suspect wanted in alleged sexual assault of teen in South Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in her South Philadelphia home, and now police are searching for the suspect. Police released surveillance video of the suspect Thursday afternoon.
In a press conference, they said it appears to be a crime of opportunity and random. The family, and the house, were not targeted.
But as you might imagine, the family and the entire neighborhood are on edge.
"So angry. Everybody cries and is scared, you know? Very angry," the teen's father said.
A father is left upset but determined after someone broke into his home and sexually assaulted his teenage daughter. The identity of the teen will remain anonymous.
"My daughter cried all day long, all night," he said.
The assault happened at about 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 21. They say the suspect got into the 15-year-old girl's second-flood bedroom through a window.
"That's kind of troubling because he's still out there and it's a shame it would happen," neighbor Tano Perez said.
Police say the suspect got into the house by walking through a wooden door near the intersection of 3rd and Shunk Streets. From there, he walked through the alley and broke into the girl's bedroom and assaulted her. The girl was sleeping in the bedroom that she shares with her younger sister.
"This neighborhood is a close-knit neighborhood. The people in the neighborhood know if they need us we're here," neighbor Nacho Perez said.
Surveillance video police released Thursday morning shows the man jostling with the door before entering the alleyway. Police say he's in his late teens or early 20s. He was last seen wearing a dark t-shirt, skinny jeans and white sneakers.
"That concerns us obviously for somebody to be that brazen that time of night 10:30-11 at night to enter someone's home like that," Philadelphia Police Capt. James Kearney said.
The father tells Eyewitness News his family has lived in the home for 15 years, but now, he says his daughter is scared to sleep alone and will only sleep with her mother.
"It's scary. If you're sleeping in your room and somebody is in your room how would you feel? Everybody is scared," the victim's father said.
Police say the suspect got away with some money.
If you have any information you're asked to contact 911 or call the city's anonymous tip line at 215-686-TIPS.
