Police offer $10,000 reward for information in home invasions, sex assault

Philadelphia police on Thursday announced a $10,000 reward for information on a man police believe attacked two women in their homes, in Point Breeze and South Philadelphia.

And thanks to surveillance footage recovered near the scene of the second attack, investigators have put together a more complete timeline of that incident - one that speaks to the suspect's brazenness, Capt. John Darby of the Special Victims Unit said.

The most recent incident took place around 5:30 a.m. Monday on the 1800 block of South Rosewood Street. The victim, a 35-year-old woman, awoke to see a masked stranger standing over her bed. The man demanded money and then sexually assaulted her before fleeing the house, police said.

Darby said Thursday that police now believe the man may have been in the victim's house that night. He said the new video footage suggests the suspect broke into the house, stole the woman's car keys, and drove her car a few blocks away - then returned to the house and sexually assaulted her, Darby said.

The boldness of that attack, Darby said, should encourage anyone with any information on the incident to contact police.

Police are also looking for the man in connection with another home invasion, which took place in March on the 1700 block of South Chadwick Street. In that case, a 30-year-old woman was confronted in her home in the early morning by a man who demanded money, and then exposed himself and demanded sex.

He choked her and attempted to sexually assault her, then fled the house, police said.

Police noted several similarities between the two cases - the home invasions, the time of the attacks, and their proximity - and also noted the man, in both incidents, had been wearing red gloves.

Anyone with any information on the attacks is asked to call 215-686-TIPS.