A man sexually assaulted two women in separate incidents Tuesday near the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Le Conte Avenue.
In both cases, the man waited for the women to walk near him, then grabbed their crotches before fleeing, police said. The assaults happened within an hour of each other.
Five cases of sexual battery have been reported since March 8. The descriptions of the assaults are similar, and police believe one man to be responsible.
The man is described as being Hispanic, 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall, and between 40 and 60 years old. He has a pot belly, brown eyes and a dark complexion, and wears either a farmer’s hat or a baseball hat, according to a UCPD statement. Police have not released a sketch of the man.
Police are assigning patrols to the case, and are taking a number of measures to capture the man responsible, said UCPD spokeswoman Nancy Greenstein, who declined to go into detail because of the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The man appears to be targeting women who are distracted and talking on their cell phones, Greenstein said. She added that she believes the women were walking by themselves, though in public places, when they were assaulted.
Police are hopeful they will catch the man responsible, Greenstein said, but in the meantime people should be especially aware of their surroundings.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity is advised to contact UCPD dispatch at 310-825-1491.