Neighbors fearful in wake of Wallingford rape

Most of the houses in the 1600 block of North 52nd Street are freshly painted and have jogging strollers on the front porches. There are carved pumpkins on the railings and sandboxes, swings and climbing cubes in the backyards.

A lot of young, stay-at-home mothers live here, several residents said, and they usually feel safe and thankful for their Wallingford neighborhood.

But Tuesday afternoon, neighbors were crisscrossing the street, worried looks on their faces, phone numbers in hand.

On Monday night, a woman on their street was sexually assaulted in her home between 9 and 10 p.m. while her children were sleeping and her husband was running an errand. According to police, the man entered the home and confronted the victim, then threatened her, sexually assaulted her and stole some items before fleeing.

Seattle police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said the assault appears to be an "isolated incident" involving a man who was a stranger to the woman.

Police did not release further details of the attack or a description of the attacker but issued a warning for neighbors to keep doors and windows locked even while at home.

"Keep doors and windows locked, get to know your neighbors, report suspicious activity to police and be vigilant," Whitcomb said.

Few residents wanted to discuss the incident Tuesday.

"This is too close to home," said one woman with a baby on her hip and a toddler in the doorway.

"I don't have anything to say," said another, tears springing to her eyes.

"I feel sorry for the woman it happened to and her family," said a third.

Another woman, who called herself Jane, walked up the street after getting an e-mail about the attack to see whether she could find out more details. Some neighbors exchanged phone numbers and vowed to keep their eyes open.

"It's frightening," said Jane, who said she'd experienced three cars being stolen and one window broken in the 12 years she's lived on this street just east of Woodland Park. But she has never experienced a violent crime.

"I'll tell you one thing," she said. "I will definitely be more watchful."

Ray Begger, who's lived on the block for 41 years, said it's the first crime of its sort that he's heard of in the neighborhood.

"It's terrible," said Begger. "It's starting to happen everywhere. I guess we're not immune."

Police spokesman Mark Jamieson said police are not releasing a suspect description because they don't have a very specific or "useful" one at this time. He said police will release a description if they receive more information.

Whitcomb said attacks by a stranger are rare and that while neighbors should exercise extra caution and vigilance, there is no need for undue alarm.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen something suspicious in that area at the time of the attack to call 206-684-5575.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com