SAN ANTONIO — UTSA students are on edge after police said a man sexually assaulted a woman at her on-campus apartment. University police say the offender was a stranger who broke in through a window in the middle of the night.
It happened just after 4 a.m. on Sunday at University Oaks, which is privately managed by Campus Living Villages.
The following alert was sent out to students on Monday morning.
The suspect fled the apartment after the assault, according to investigators, and remains at large. He is described as a "stocky man a with a light complexion." Police say he was wearing a grey t-shirt, dark shorts and a backwards baseball cap.
In a statement, UTSA’s Police Department reaffirmed its “zero-tolerance environment for sexual assault” and shared several safety resources and support services.
The police department also said it's increasing patrols in response to the attack.
“It’s scary because it could happen to anyone,” said Kaitlin, a University Oaks resident. “It happened within a mile radius of where I live. The fact that there are no cameras here makes it pretty scary for us. Now I am going to install Ring cameras and I don’t take my trash out at night.”
Kennedy, who is another resident at University Oaks, told KENS 5 she is also taking precautions.
“I actually have an appointment to have my concealed carry license for whenever I am walking between my car and my door,” said Kennedy. “We are getting window alarms installed in my apartment. My family and I want to make sure that I am safer; being two hours away from home.”
Another student, who didn’t want to be publicly identified, said she will be walking to class in groups until the perpetrator is caught.
“I want to start buying locks for my own doors because you can’t be too careful,” the resident said. “It’s really scary, but to be honest, I’m not that surprised because one night I thought I heard something.”
This comes just two years after a student discovered a hidden camera in a fake smoke detector at a University Oaks apartment. There have been several car break-ins since then, residents say.
Renters shared frustration over Campus Living Villages’ perceived lack of security.
“Close the gates and put cameras around because we would probably be able to find this guy by now if they had cameras,” said Kaitlin. “You want to feel safe in your own home, especially when you don’t live with your parents.”
Anyone with information about the suspect is urged to call UTSA’s Police Department at 210-458-4242.
KENS 5 reached out to Campus Living Villages for comment, but as of this publication, we have not heard back.