CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A man bound and raped a Dunbar woman while four other suspects ransacked her home in an invasion early Sunday, police said.

Police don't believe the assault was random.

At about 12:44 a.m. Sunday, Dunbar police were called to a home along the 1200 block of Moore Avenue. Four black men and a black woman had broken into the home and tied up the male and female homeowners, said Dunbar Police Chief Earl Whittington.

One man sexually assaulted the female homeowner, and the four other people attacked the male, he said.

"They then ransacked the residence," Whittington said. "When they left they took money and several other items."

He's not sure how long the attack lasted but said the suspects remained in the home for quite some time. Both victims denied medical treatment at the scene.

The five suspects fled, possibly in a green-colored station wagon. The victims did not get a good description of the suspects, but told police the female suspect was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

Whittington said evidence shows the suspects targeted the home for certain valuables, but it's unclear how they knew the items would be there.

Releasing a list of what was stolen from the home would hinder the investigation, he said. He said officers were following up on leads Monday.

Whittington said this type of heinous crime is unusual for Dunbar. Three acts of rape were reported to police in 2010, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. At least one of those occurred during a burglary, according to the report. One rape was reported in 2009 and five were reported in 2008.

Eight rapes were reported in Kanawha County in 2010, nine in 2009 and 15 in 2008, according to the report.

Anyone with information about this crime can speak to a Dunbar police officer at 304-766-0204 or can leave an anonymous tip by dialing extension 109.

Reach Travis Crum at travis.c...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.