Woman reports sexual assault attempt outside Cat's Cradle in Carrboro

The woman said the man approached her between the venue and the parking deck, in the 300 block of East Main Street in Carrboro, just before 11:30 p.m. She was able to get away and call for help.

"The surprising part was not that it happened, more so that it was the first time I was hearing about it." Caro Register, lives in Carrboro, said.

Many people WRAL spoke with were hearing of the attempted assault for the first time.

"It's a terrible situation. It is awful to hear," Register said.

The Carrboro Police Department says it was here on East Main Street where the woman was approached by a man she didn't know who attempted to sexually assault her.

Police say she got away.

For some its a wake up call...that these things can happen in their community.

"Those things happen. People say it doesn't happen here, but then it does. I think we have to be aware of that," Ben Bassett, lives near Carrboro said.

Caro Register is a professor at UNC Chapel Hill.

She says she warns her students about this very situation.

"As I get to know students, I always try to encourage them to participate in safe behavior, always tell someone where you are, always have someone with your location," Register said.

Police are warning people to do just that if they plan to come to this area tonight.

In statement they remind people to walk in groups and be aware of their surroundings.

"It is important for there to be more awareness about this in general," Register said. 

Police are asking anyone who may have been in this area and saw anything suspicious last night to call them.

Police did not provide a description of the man, but they are investigating. They asked that anyone who was in that area during the time of the attempt and may have witnessed something contact Investigator J. Armstrong with the Carrboro Police Department (jarmstrong@carrboronc.gov; 919-918-7417) or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515.

Police remind anyone walking late at night to be aware of their surroundings and to travel in groups.