A day after a woman in Chicago was attacked in the Wicker Park neighborhood, city police issued an alert urging local residents to be on high guard. Investigators are searching for a Hispanic man in his mid-20s who is about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, the Chicago Tribune reports.The assault occurred around 6:15 p.m., when the 22-year-old was on her way home. Police say that she took a path through an alley after which a man approached her from behind and pushed her up against a gate. According to the news source, the victim was able to fight off her assailant, who then fled the scene.
The National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control recently conducted a survey and found that around 1.9 million women and about 3.2 million men are physically attacked each year in the United States.
One of the best ways to protect oneself from being the victim of such an attack is to buy pepper spray. Experts suggest carrying the device on a keychain or in an easy-to-reach location so it can be used quickly if necessary.
