A four-year-old girl visiting from the U.S. during the holidays was allegedly abducted from a home in a north Toronto neighbourhood and sexually assaulted.

The child, who was visiting from Connecticut, was taken to hospital. She has since been released.

The girl's relatives came and went from the home near Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue on Tuesday, but asked the media for privacy as police investigate the case.

Toronto police sex crime investigators said the girl was snatched from her bed by a stranger who got into the home at about 3 a.m. on Boxing Day and sexually assaulted her before her parents woke to find her missing.

The girl's family called 911, then found her outside the house nearby and saw a man running away.

"It is very brazen, on the surface, that someone's broken into this house and … the young girl has been abducted and assaulted. We're very concerned," Det. Dan Luff said.

Police did not give specifics about the alleged sexual assault, but said the girl is OK and being cared for by her parents.

They said they are concerned the man could strike again.

The suspect is described as white, 19 to 20 years old, and between five feet, six inches and five feet, 10 inches, with an average build.

He was last seen running west from the scene. He was wearing a blue jacket with a red stripe or a sweatshirt and a toque, hat or hoodie.

Police are requesting the public's assistance with any information regarding the incident.