Ansonia intruder remains on the loose

ANSONIA, Conn. (WTNH) -- Residents of one apartment complex are losing sleep after learning that an intruder is still on the loose.

Thursday night a neighborhood watch group met with Ansonia Police, in an effort to find a man who recently broke into a woman's home while she slept.

A notice alerted folks Wednesday that a woman woke up to find a man touching her arm, demanding her to take off her clothes, and she escaped.

Thursday they had a closed door meeting on what actions are going to be taken.

To many, home is a sanctuary, to some Beaver Brook neighbors, it's unsettling.

"Every time I hear something, I wake up anyways, so it's very scary," said Laura Benton.

"I've been having restless nights, my daughters sleeping with me, my husbands sleeping downstairs," said Tarsha Whitfield.

Police say there's been two incidents in June and one this past Monday where a man broke into a single woman's home early in the morning.

In some instances he's touched them. When they awake, he scrams.

"They need to be more proactive, they really do. They should have done that from the start. From day one when they heard of it," said Whitfield.

Thursday night's meeting was with a local Ansonia police officer, but they only let watch group captains inside.

"I've provided them safety tips, how to safeguard themselves and their properties," said Officer Richard Esposito, of Ansonia.

"They feel like not enough is being done, there isn't enough security, they don't see enough officer patrol, what would would you want to say to that," asked News 8's Stephanie Simoni.

"Well, patrols have been bumped up," said Esposito. "There is increased officer presence."

Either way, neighbors say they won't get a good nights sleep until the suspect is sleeping behind bars.

"What if something did happen to those ladies like really severe? What if one lost their life? You know, sorry is too late," said Whitfield.

"What if it happens to me or that next person, then we might not be so lucky next time," said Benton.