Los Angeles:  A 40-year-old woman of Chinese descent was sexually assaulted late Sunday night, September 18, 2005, when a man entered her room through a second-floor balcony door of a seniors convalescent home in the Westlake area of Los Angeles.

The victim was a nurse in the convalescent home, located at 2000 Miramar Avenue.  She was sleeping in the room at 10:30 PM.  She had left open the balcony door for ventilation on the warm night.  The victim was not seriously injured in the attack, though she was traumatized.  While the convalescent home was occupied with other residents at the time of the attack, no other victims were reported involved.

The initial description of the suspect is a man, 5 feet 8 inches tall, who weighs about 150 pounds, between 30 and 40 years old.  The man's descent was not known, but he did speak English fluently.

Residents and businesses should follow safety guidelines, which include locking doors and windows at night to avert intruders.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to call Rampart Detective Division
at 213-207-2000.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).