Intruder sexually assaults girl, 5, in Linda Vista home; Suspect search underway, SDPD says

WARNING: This story may have disturbing details. Discretion is advised.

An investigation is underway in a Linda Vista neighborhood Thursday after a man sexually assaulted a sleeping girl, the San Diego Police Department said.

The man entered a home in the neighborhood near Linda Vista Road and Mesa College Drive through an unlocked door at about 1:45 a.m. and "fondled" the five-year-old girl, according to officials with the San Diego Police Department and a spokesperson for the city of San Diego.

The girl screamed when she woke up, alerting her parents, SDPD Lt. Michael Swanson said.

San Diego police are still searching for a suspect, who left the home and ran up the street on foot, and provided a vague description. The man had dark hair, was about 160 to 180 pounds, about 5'8'' or 5'9'' and was wearing a dark jacket, possibly a windbreaker and dark pants at the time, SDPD said.

It is not yet clear if the suspect was someone known to the family or not, City of San Diego spokesperson Jose Ysea. SDPD is checking other homes in the area to see if the suspect attempted to get into any others.

A neighbor told NBC 7 the community was military housing. Authorities urged the community to be vigilant and keep doors and windows locked.

Adriana Geiwitz has been staying next door to help watch her grandchildren. She says there are lots of children in the community and that when they all get home from school, they flood the streets, riding their bikes at the park. Her 10-year-old granddaughter is one of them.

"She used to go and then come back when it gets dark. That's how safe it is here. It was," Geiwitz said.

The other next-door neighbor, Lacy Chavez, has a 10-year-old of her own. Chavez said her family did not hear anything happening during the night.

"We do the best that we can for our kids," Chavez said. "There's no one to blame for this except for the person who did it."

Both neighbors told NBC 7 that they were in the process of getting security cameras after the incident. Chavez said they "never needed them" before.

"We ordered them this morning. A little too late, but we got them," Geiwitz said.

No other information was immediately provided.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said the suspect was not known to the family. San Diego police do not have enough details to know if the suspect was known to the family or not.

This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.

NBC 7's Shandel Menezes contributed to this report.