Jan 29, 2009 12:13 am US/Pacific
Sexual Predator Attacks Students Near UC Berkeley
BERKELEY (BCN) ―
Berkeley police said Wednesday night that they are seeking the community's help in catching a predator who they believe is responsible for assaulting at least three college-aged women south of the University of California at Berkeley campus.
Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said detectives believe the suspect is focusing on women who are wearing skirts.
She said that in each case the suspect approached the victim from behind, lifted her skirt and tried to sexually assault her.
Kusmiss said three of the crimes occurred Saturday.
She said the first incident was at 12:30 a.m. at Bowditch and Channing ways, the second was at 1:30 a.m. at Channing Way and Piedmont Avenue and the third was at 2:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Warring Street.
Kusmiss said detectives also believe that an incident at 12:30 a.m. at Haste Street and Piedmont Avenue is related based on the suspect's method of operation.
She said that because the suspect approached the victims from behind, the victims have been unable to get a detailed description of the suspect.
Kusmiss said the victims generally have described the suspect as a white male between 20 and 30 years old who is between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-9 and is of medium build with short dark hair.
Witnesses to any of the incidents should call the Berkeley Police Department's sex crimes detail at (510) 981-5735 or 981-5734, Kusmiss said. People who want to remain anonymous can call Bay Area Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
Kusmiss said police are encouraging women who are victims of similar crimes in the future to call 911 as soon as possible because that may increase the chances of catching the suspect.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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