DIXIANA, SC (WIS) -
A woman waiting for her family to visit her was the victim of a robbery and attempted rape, but the suspects were foiled by her two dogs, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department.
According to an incident report, Lexington County deputies responded to the scene on Sunday after a phone call from the woman.
When they arrived, the woman told deputies two men forced themselves into her residence.
Investigators say the men attempted to knock out the victim using a blunt object in order to steal jewelry from her.
One of the men, according to the woman, tried to forcibly remove her pants while she screamed for her two dogs.
Deputies say the dogs eventually broke their way through a gate that held them in another bedroom and chased the men out of the home.
"They not only saved this lady from being raped, which I think their
intent was to do by taking her clothes off, but they may have even saved
her life because as I indicated, one was hollering to the other one,
'Knock her out,'" said Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts.
The victim told officials she believes the pair left the scene on foot. Investigators found pieces of the woman's jewelry on the front lawn of the home.
Investigators describe one of the suspects as between the ages of 30 and 40 years old, between 5'5" and 5'8", and weighing up to 180 pounds.
The second suspect was described as an Hispanic male around 30 years old, with medium-length black hair.
If you have any information about this case, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
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A composite sketch of one of the suspects deputies are seeking.
