Campbell Co., VA - A normally quiet Campbell County neighborhood is on alert after a woman says she was raped by an armed intruder. It happened 7:30 Tuesday night, when it was still light outside.

The victim says she had just gotten home. Twenty minutes later he was gone and police have been looking for him since.

"This is unheard of in this neighborhood, I've been here 21 years and I've never heard of anything like this," Shirley Tomlin said.

Residents near Lee Place are keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, after a woman says she was raped by a masked man Tuesday. "That's right in our backdoor,” Tomlin said.

Now neighbors are being extra cautious.  "If we leave the house, if he goes towards that way, we'll lock the doors from now on,” Suzanne Gowen said.

Police say it was an unlocked door that granted the rapist access to the victim's home. Neighbors say the man could have easily slipped away unnoticed.

"It's all wooded area and the same thing, we've got woods between the streets and in between these apartments," Gowen said.

Major Steven Hutcherson with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office said, "You have to be real concerned about somebody who would commit a violent crime like that."

The Sheriff's Office is following all possible leads in this case- a rape by stranger doesn't happen often.

"I believe it's been 25 years since we've had a crime like this in Campbell County," Hutcherson said.

And neighbors and law enforcement hope it doesn't happen again.  "It was scary, it was scary and I said I feel sorry for this woman who got raped, because you know that's a horrible thing," Tomlin said.

Police are asking for your help. They are looking for a man about 6’ 2” tall. He was wearing a black hoodie and stocking mask. 
Police say he was wearing a black t-shirt with burn marks on both sleeves. If you know anything, call Crime Stoppers (web) at 888-798-5900. Your call is anonymous.

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