Authorities are searching for a man suspected of sexually assaulting and robbing a teenager at a bus stop on Chicago's South Side.

The incident took place at around 5:05 a.m. on Feb. 22 in the 9500 block of South Halsted Street, according to a community alert from Chicago police.

Officials said the armed man approached an 18-year-old woman at the bus stop and announced a robbery, ordering the victim to a secluded area where he sexually assaulted her before taking her money and fleeing the scene.

The crime had many area residents on edge.

"Always have a friend or a cousin or someone to go with you, you know, especially when you’re leaving early in the morning like that," Regina Bailey said. "We’ve got to just watch our surroundings no matter where we at."

"That was a crime of opportunity and she was young. I really hope they find out who did this," neighbor Darla Jackson added.

The offender's image was captured on surveillance camera and released by police, who have been talking to nearby business owners in order to gather more surveillance footage of the area.

The suspect was described as standing between 5'5" and 5'7" with a thin build and medium complexion, according to police. He had a short "patchy" beard, authorities said, and wore a black, fleece North Face jacket, gray jogging pants, a black baseball hat with red under the brim, and black boots.

Anyone with information on the offender or the incident is asked to contact detectives at (312) 747-8271.