This article was updated on Feb. 13 at 12:31 a.m.
University police are investigating an attempted sexual battery that reportedly occurred Friday evening, when a man allegedly entered an apartment on Gayley Avenue after telling the resident he was a magazine salesman.
At about 8:15 p.m., a man knocked on the resident’s door on the 700 block of Gayley Avenue under the pretense of selling magazines, according to a university police report released Monday. He entered the apartment and then reportedly attempted to sexually batter the resident. Police define sexual battery as any sort of unwanted physical contact.
The man then fled southbound on Gayley Avenue, the report stated.
The resident was not a UCLA student, according to the report.
UCPD spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein declined to offer additional details on how the reported attempted battery occurred to protect the resident’s privacy.
Greenstein said police were notified about the incident shortly after it occurred but did not release a report to the public until Monday because they did not believe the public was in immediate danger.
UCPD intended the report to be an advisory to students that they should no let strangers into their homes, she said.
Incidences such as this are unusual in Westwood, but she said it is still important for students to remain wary. In the past students have reported computers being stolen when they let strangers into their apartment for a party.
Police recommend students do not open the door for strangers or invite them into their residence. Students should call UCPD if they see someone they believe is suspicious.
The man connected to Friday’s reported sexual battery was described in the report as white, about 25 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 200 pounds. He had a shaved head and was wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt, light blue shorts, tennis shoes and sunglasses over his head at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information on this case or similar cases can contact UCPD at 310-825-9371.
Compiled by Erin Donnelly, Bruin senior staff.