A Dunedin man is accused of breaking into the home of a 52-year-old woman he targeted in an attempt to rape her while wearing a ninja mask.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Nick James Nardelli, 29, was later caught after crashing his car while leaving the scene. He was arrested and charged with loitering and prowling, burglary/battery, false imprisonment, attempted sexual battery and possession of burglary tools.

Deputies said during the early hours of Sept. 29, Nardelli entered the woman’s Palm Harbor home through an unlocked door. The victim told deputies she felt someone watching her and when she opened her eyes saw the intruder in her bedroom doorway.

Deputies said Nardelli attacked the woman, held her against her will and attempted to sexually batter her. The woman was able to get away after a struggle with the suspect. She sustained minor bumps and bruises.

Deputies said the suspect then fled the scene in his car and crashed it into a sewer drain on the 1800 block of Whispering Way in Tarpon Springs. The car sustained damages and could not be driven.

Deputies were dispatched to this location to a report of a suspicious person. Nardelli was arrested nearby a short time later for loitering and prowling.

Detectives were able to connect the incidents after they discovered a ninja mask along with gloves, zip ties and duct tape in a nearby trash bin. They said they located a Walmart receipt in the suspect's vehicle for items to include a hammer, a costume, gloves and ties.

During the interview, deputies said the suspect admitted to the crime and told deputies he had fantasized about raping the victim. Detectives said that while the suspect did not know the victim, he had targeted her.