Lauren Hernández

One person was sexually assaulted during a home invasion in Oakland’s Redwood Heights neighborhood early Thursday morning in what police say appears to be a “random act of violence,” authorities said.

Just before 4 a.m., Oakland police said a man went through an unlocked window of a home, demanded money from two victims who had been asleep and sexually assaulted one victim before leaving the home.

Police said in a statement Thursday that they need the help of the public to solve this case. Authorities described the suspect as a 5’10” man with a thin build in his 20s who was wearing a black mask, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

Anyone with information or video related to this incident should call Oakland police’s Special Victims Section at 510-238-3641.

Police are urging residents to reduce the risk of a home invasion by keeping their doors and windows locked at all times, install an alarm or video surveillance system, ensure porches and driveways are well lit, trim bushes and trees to “increase visibility from inside of your house and to avoid hiding spots,” and install signs that alert passersby to their home’s alarm system, surveillance system or dog on the property.

Lauren Hernández is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez