Upper Hutt woman injured in home invasion

File photo / NZ Herald

A 26-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in a daylight home invasion in Upper Hutt today.

Police were called to McLeod St in Elderslea after the woman was attacked in her home shortly before 3pm.

Senior Sergeant Carolyn McKenzie of Hutt Valley police said officers were investigating the attack believed to be sexual in nature.

The victim, who was injured, had spoken to police this afternoon.

"She's holding up pretty well at this stage, she's being supported by our police staff. Obviously it's a pretty distressing time,'' Ms McKenzie said.

She said afternoon home invasions were not very common.

"Obviously attacks of this nature are taken extremely seriously.

"As soon as we became aware we saturated the area with police. Staff are still down there now.''

A neighbour said marked and unmarked police cars and a police dog unit van were on the street. He said it was a ``pretty quiet neighbourhood'' and he was surprised to see police on his street.

Police said they were conducting inquiries and searching the area.

The property would be secured overnight and a scene examination would be carried out tomorrow.

Police had not yet identified a suspect, but the offender was not thought to be known to the woman.

Anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the McLeod St area between 1pm and 3pm today is urged to contact Upper Hutt police on (04) 527 2300.

The attack was not thought to be linked to an incident in which a 48-year-old woman was found with stab wounds at her Knights Rd home in Lower Hutt yesterday.

The woman was taken to Hutt Hospital in a serious condition after her husband found her when he returned home about 4pm. Police are trying to establish what happened and would speak to the woman tomorrow.