Home-invasion attacker 'knew woman was alone'

A car similar to the one stolen from the attacked woman. Picture / NZ Police

Police investigating an assault on a woman in her Auckland home believe the attacker knew she was at home alone.

Police criminal profiler Sergeant David "Chook" Henwood attended a briefing of staff working on Operation Coil this morning and said the fact the offender used some items from the victim's Onehunga home to assist with his violent and sexual attack suggests he was disorganised.

The victim, a 32 year-old accountant from China, has been seriously traumatised by her ordeal but has provided police with a detailed statement over the past three days.

"She has told the investigators that the man used her own pyjama pants to try and gag her and almost suffocate her during his depraved assault and that to me suggests he knew she was home alone and vulnerable," Mr Henwood said.

Police have not been able to determine a point of entry into the house, but the victim saw the offender leave through the front door shortly before she herself ran half naked next door to her neighbours for help.

Finding the woman's stolen car is crucial to finding the man responsible for the brutal home invasion, officers said.

The car - a burgundy coloured 1997 Honda Logo, two door hatchback with black bumpers and the registration number BDM323 - was stolen from Spring St, opposite the victim's flat, sometime after the attack early on Friday morning.

The key to it was stolen from her home.

Officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Beard, said finding the car continued to be one of the main focuses for the large team of investigators today.

"It's absolutely vital that we find our victim's car and in doing so get some traction on a possible offender because we sure as hell don't want to see this sort of incident repeated - or even escalated - in the weeks to come," Mr Beard said.

Police have set up an 0800 number for members of the public to call if they have information on the case. That number is 0800 BRUTAL (0800-278-825)

- NZHERALD STAFF