Police make arrest in sexual assault after second break-in

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ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Atlanta Police said they have made an arrest in a sexual assault case, and said the suspect preyed on the same victim twice by first raping her then returning to burglarize her home.

Demetrius Abercrombie, 42, was arrested Tuesday and charged with rape, sodomy, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and burglary. Police said Abercrombie has an extensive criminal record with prior rapes in 2005 and burglary in 2012.

Police said Abercrombie entered a unit in the Colonial Square apartments off Old Hapeville Road and Cleveland Avenue SW, just east of Interstate 75 through an unlocked door. It happened a little after 4 p.m. on May 31.

The victim was able to give police enough details to create a sketch of the man. She also told police the man had a distinct smell," and he told her he just got out of prison.

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Five days later, police were back at the same apartment after the previous victim reported a burglary. The victim had been away from the apartment since the attack and when she came back, she found several items stolen from her home. Police said they were able to link the second break-in to Abercrombie, who investigators said also matched the description of the sexual assault suspect.

"To me, it takes a sick and twisted individual that would commit a sexual assault, then four days later return to that location to steal from that location-- or maybe try to encounter that victim again," said Lt. Jeff Baxter from Atlanta Police.

Abercrombie was booked into the Fulton County Jail. It was not immediately clear if he had legal representation.

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