OAKLAND (BCN)--Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the  arrest of a man who kidnapped a woman near Lake Merritt in Oakland and then  sexually assaulted her early Monday morning.

     

Police said the victim, a 34-year-old woman, told them that as she  was leaving a home in the 2800 block of Lakeshore Avenue at about 3 a.m., a  car pulled up alongside her and the driver told her to get inside.

     

The woman continued to walk, but the driver, whom she did not  know, stopped his car, got out and approached her on foot, according to  police. He grabbed her and forced her to get inside, police said.

     

The man then drove the woman to an undisclosed area in Oakland and  sexually assaulted her in his car, police said.

     

Afterward, the suspect pushed the woman out of the car and drove  off, according to police. They said the suspect was "physically violent"  toward the woman during the incident.

     

Police described the suspect as a black man in his early 20s and  said he was driving a four-door dark-colored sedan.

     

Oakland police said anyone with information about the case should  call their Youth and Family Services Division at (510) 238-3641 or their tip  line at (510) 637-0298.

     

Police said that as a safety reminder, they advise residents to  always be aware of their surroundings and not to be distracted by cellphones  or other electronic devices.

     

Residents should stay in well-lit and populated area and be  especially alert when getting into or out of their cars, police said. 

 

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