IOWA CITY – We have new information about a home invasion in Iowa City. Police say a man broke into a home on Jema Court early Tuesday morning. The man put a gun to the woman living in the house. He forced her to a nearby ATM. When the withdrawal attempt failed, police say he brought the woman back to her home and tied her up. He then left.

Iowa City Police Lieutenant Sid Jackson said, “A citizen of this community was attacked without warrant without justification in her own home."

The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries. Lt. Jackson says her life is not in danger due to the injuries, but he would not go into more detail.

LT. Jackson did release a description of the man. Police are looking for a black man around 20 years old. He has darker complexion. The man is about 5’8” to 5’10” tall and weighs around 165 to 180 pounds. Police say he was wearing a white, thigh-length t-shirt with dark blue jeans and white tennis shoes. He also had a gem earring in his left ear which could have been a diamond.

Iowa City Police Lieutenant Sid Jackson said, “We feel that we would like to get the public involved in providing us with any assistance it would take in finding out who is responsible for this act."

Police in Iowa City pushed through a new initiative to help catch the man. The attack on a single woman has forced Iowa City police to act now. For months the police and a group of citizens have been creating a crime stoppers network. But getting tax-exempt status has taken too long.

Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine said, “We were probably a couple months from going live with crime stoppers, but when this crime was reported I decided we cant wait any longer."

Chief Hargadine called together the Iowa City Area Crime Stoppers board and community leaders. He told them he needed crime stoppers to work now.

Board president Doug Myrick said, “Literally within 15 to 20 minutes of meeting we were able to raise several thousand dollars."

Of that money, $1,000 will go to anyone who calls 319-358-TIPS and gives information leading to a conviction in the burglary and assault case.

Chief Hargadine said, “There is always someone who knows something about the crime."

Crime stoppers started in Albuquerque N.M. in the mid-1970s. Since then more than half a million arrests have been made in cases just like this. Police say crime stoppers works because people remain anonymous.

Chief Hargadine said. “We have no caller-ID on the line and the line is not recorded."

When people know they will be safe they tend to help more. And help is exactly what police need now.

The crime stoppers number again is 319-358-TIPS (8477).

E-mail Steve Nicoles at Steve.Nicoles@kcrg.com