An 18-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in Alice Springs while jogging along a trail at dinner time on Wednesday, NT Police said, calling for any witnesses to help locate the perpetrator.

Police said the young woman was jogging on the Eastside Trail towards the Telegraph Station from Gosse Steet, on the eastern side of Spencer Hill, at 5:30pm when she was groped by a man, “while exposing his genitals”.

The woman was able to break free and ran for help while the man fled with her mobile phone.

“This was a very distressing experience for the young woman and police are putting all efforts, including drones and the canine unit, into identifying and apprehending the offender, who remains outstanding at this time,” said Detective Sergeant Janice Kershaw.

A police statement said the man was described as Aboriginal, in his late teens or early 20s and was wearing a black hoodie with white writing on it and dark shorts.

“Police are keen to speak with anyone who was in the area between 5:15pm and 5:40pm yesterday. Please contact police on 131 444 and quote reference 10052805,” the statement said.