Austin Police are asking for help solving a case of kidnapping and sexual assault. A woman says she was abducted by two men in the 900 block of West 26th Street at about 2:00 a.m. Monday.
She says they blindfolded her and drove her away, releasing her about four hours later in the 2200 block of Stephen F. Austin Dr.
“We don’t have any solid lead on suspects’ identities," Senior Police Offer Jermaine Kilgore said. "We are asking for the public, if anyone was in the area around 2:00 a.m. in that area to give us any information that they may have.”
Anyone with information can call 512-974-5095 or text your message to CRIMES and include “Tip 103" in your text.
Meanwhile, the University of Texas Police Department is asking people who live in the area to be aware of their surroundings.
"When walking at night, travel in pairs and be aware of the locations of blue emergency phones," UTPD said in a statement. Those phones are inside yellow boxes. They have a blue light on top, and if you pick one up and push the call button, it will put you in direct contact with UTPD and pinpoint your exact location.
The University of Texas at Austin reported zero rapes and sexual assaults in 2012, according to its crime statistics report. In a special study released last year, the U.S. Department of Justice estimated that only one out of three rapes or sexual assaults is ever reported to police.
The alleged attack has some West Campus residents concerned for their safety.
"I hope there is now increased security around this area," a commenter identified as Mark posted in reply to a Daily Texan story on the assault. "Once someone has proved it can be done, others will follow."
"West Campus is uber creepy at night. And they say Riverside is bad," added another commenter.
Some students' parents are worried, too, if their kids' Tweets are anything to go by.
"I shouldn't have told my mom about the UT kidnapping/assault thing," Sylvia Ofor Tweeted. "She already thinks 8:00 P.M. is too late to be walking home by myself."
"I'm not telling my parents about the UT kidnapping rape thing," Lily Rocha said on Twitter. "They worry enough."
