Berkeley police seek man who burglarized home, sexually assaulted woman

A man entered a home in South Berkeley and sexually battered a female resident early this morning, police reported. A man entered a home in South Berkeley and sexually battered a female resident early this morning, police reported. Photo: Sarah Ravani Photo: Sarah Ravani Image 1 of / 28 Caption Close Berkeley police seek man who burglarized home, sexually assaulted woman 1 / 28 Back to Gallery

Police are searching for a man they say broke into a home in South Berkeley on Sunday morning and sexually assaulted a woman inside.

About 6 a.m., police said the man illegally entered a residence on the 2400 block of Blake Street, in the south campus area of UC Berkeley. The man burglarized the home and “sexually battered a female resident inside” before fleeing, said Berkeley police Lt. Peter Hong.

It’s unclear whether the man fled on foot or in a vehicle, and police declined to release any further details of the assault or burglary.

Police described the suspect as a black man age 20 to 30, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, clean-shaven with a square-shaped face and medium build, either balding or with very short hair. He was wearing a polo shirt with three buttons, solid orange from the collar to upper chest area and with horizontal stripes at the bottom.

Hong said police have not received similar reports but encouraged other victims or potential witnesses to contact the department’s special victims unit at 510-981-5716.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter @meganrcassidy