Police are warning those in the valley to make sure windows and doors are locked at night following a brutal and serious sexual assault of a local mom.

The woman was asleep in her home in the 5500 block of Jaynes Road about 4:20 a.m. Saturday when a man who’d apparently broken into her house accosted her, police said.

The man woke the woman and a fight ensued, said North Cowichan/Duncan RCM Cpl. Kevin Day.

The mom of a young child was assaulted with a weapon, struck several times and sexually assaulted.

The suspect fled after the woman’s young child woke up.

“The child was not in the same room,” said Day, who noted the mom and her youngster were the only ones in the home before the attack occurred.

Police have not yet determined how the suspect gained entrance into the home.

“There is some speculation at this point, but nothing is confirmed,” Day said.

The victim was treated at the Cowichan District Hospital and released a short time later.

Police say it appears the woman did not know her attacker and police are pulling out the stops to locate the suspect.

He is described as a muscular, six-foot, clean-shaven olive-skinned male in his mid- to late-20's, with short — but spiked —dark hair.

The North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Serious Crime Unit is continuing to investigate the incident.

Police are actively making attempts to locate the suspect and are asking for public assistance.

“Based on the time, 4:30 in the morning, any male seen in the area at that time could be the suspect,” said Day.

Police are asking anyone who saw a male matching the suspect’s description near the 5500 block of Jaynes Road on Saturday morning to call the RCMP at 250-748-5522 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. An anonymous tip that leads to an arrest could earn the tipster as much as a $2,000 cash reward.