Thief, interrupted, sexually assaults New Westminster woman

Police in New Westminster say a 30-year-old woman was sexually assaulted after she confronted a man who snuck into her apartment from her balcony while she was at home.

Police say the break-inand sexual assault happened at approximately 9 p.m. PT Wednesdayin the 1200 block of London Street, near the busy intersection of Kingsway and Tenth Avenue.

New Westminster police Sgt. Diana McDaniel said the suspect entered the apartment via the sliding balcony door, where the resident confronted him.

"While in the residence, the suspect sexually assaulted the female victim and then fled the scene with two laptop computers and the victims wallet," McDaniel said in a written statement.

The suspect is described as white, with a thin build, approximately sixfeet talland in his 40s.

He had short whitish-grey hair, blue or green eyes, and was wearing a grey hoodie, dark track pants, white sports shoes, and a scarf wrapped around his head to cover his face at the time of the assault.