Crime & Safety

Man Burglarizes 3 Homes, Sexually Assaults Rahway Woman: Police

During the 3rd burglary, a woman who said she had been asleep on a sofa, awoke to find the unknown man on top of her: Police.

RAHWAY, NJ — Authorities are searching for a man who reportedly broke into three Rahway homes and sexually assaulted a woman all within about the same half-hour early Friday morning, acting Union County Prosecutor Michael A. Monahan and Rahway Police Chief John Rodger jointly announced.

Two of the three burglaries occurred at homes about 150 feet apart on the 1000 block of Hazel Place, while the third happened at a home around the corner on the 100 block of East Hazelwood Avenue, Monahan said.

A homeowner reported at around 4:30 a.m. hearing a noise inside their home. When he left his bedroom he saw the unknown man in the hallway who ran away, according to the report.

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The man had reportedly forced his way in through a second-story window.

Another resident reported minutes later being awoken by a noise outside. When they went outside, they saw the unknown man trying to break into the rear sliding door. When they yelled at him, he ran, the residents' reported.

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The third incident was reported shortly before 5 a.m. at the East Hazelwood Avenue home where a 67-year-old woman said she had been asleep on a sofa when she awoke to an unknown man on top of her, according to the resident.

The man reportedly broke in through a rear door. The woman was hospitalized with minor injuries.

The suspect, who remains at large, is described as a black male in his late 20s or early 30s with a medium complexion and a medium build, wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and pants.

The Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Victims Unit is assisting the Rahway Police Department in this investigation.

Anyone with information about the break-ins or the identity of the suspect is being urged to contact Rahway Police Detective Andrew Webb at 732-669-3613.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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