Jogger raped on East Boulevard

12:08 AM EDT on Tuesday, September 27, 2005

BY NICOLE KONKAL / 6NEWS

The jogging community is on alert after a woman said she was raped while jogging in the 700 block of East Boulevard Sunday.

Police said the woman was jogging in Dilworth around dawn. She told police a stranger grabbed her and threatened her with a knife. He then pulled her near an office building on Springdale Avenue.

The victim said the man then raped her and drove off in a car.

Word has spread quickly through the jogging community after several joggers helped the woman after the crime before police arrived.

The crime has caused some joggers to reconsider jogging alone.

“Really what it makes me think more about is jogging alone I was planning on an early morning run on Saturday in the park and I’m re thinking that and I may get a buddy to go with me,” said jogger Teresa Carey.

In fact, Carey said runners may be vulnerable because of their mentality.

“Well I’m very concerned about the person who was affected. Makes me think about when I go out by myself. I think a lot of times runners, women and men, just feel invincible when you run you don’t think of anything happening to you and you’re determined to finish your route and nothing, the weather’s not going to stop you, a fear won’t stop you, it’s just a cause to stop and think,” said Carey.

Victim said she did not get a good look at her attacker because he was wearing some sort of cloth over her face. She also said she was wearing headphones which is something experts advise against because it reduces your awareness of what’s going on around you.

If you have any information on this case, you are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600.