by Geary Cox / News Editor

 

Thirteen new cases of a trespasser entering the apartments of females while they sleep have been reported since Friday, according to the Harrisonburg Police Department. The latest case occurred on Saturday.

A total of 18 reports have been filed with the HPD since January 2003 from female victims living in housing complexes primarily on Devon Lane, Sgt. Shane Brown of the HPD said. Complexes along Devon Lane include Forest Hills, Fox Hills, Ashby Crossing, South View and Squire Hills.

Brown said that instances of the suspect entering unhindered began as early as January 2003 and continued this summer. "The deal is that the guy is obviously targeting areas that are predominantly off-campus student housing," he said.

"As of right now, there has been no violent actions … Some have involved inappropriate sexual touching, but a lot of the cases have been mere trespassing," Brown said. "We want to educate [citizens] that there have been no forced entries. These were crimes of opportunity." Brown said that "crimes of opportunity" in these cases involve the suspect entering through a doorway that is open by chance.

Junior Rachel Heiser, who lives in Forest Hills, said, "It makes me very concerned — not just for myself, but for my roommates and friends."

Heiser said that she deadbolts the door and locks the windows of her townhouse at night and during the day when it is unoccupied.

In a media release last week, police described the suspect as a black male, 20 to 30 years old, 5-feet-8-inches tall, about 155 pounds and usually casually dressed.

"Everything has been nonviolent," Brown said. "Once identified, [the suspect] has been nonthreatening."

When the victims awake to find the suspect in their rooms, he often is apologetic, calling the victim "Jen" or "Rebecca," and claiming that he is in the wrong apartment.

In at least three cases, the suspect has affected a "Jamaican" or "British" accent, according to the HPD.

The HPD currently is "chasing down every possible lead," and each new case provides different information, according to Brown.

"A lot of people dismissed previous cases as circumstance," Brown said of the rise in new reports. All citizens should "be aware," he added.

Brown encouraged victims to notify the HPD immediately.

"Use good common sense," he added. "Make sure that your doors are locked before you go to bed at night. Some people have not locked their doors because their roommates are not in for the night.

"We’ll start getting a lot of calls about ‘suspicious males.’ Not every black male in the parking lot is a suspicious person."

Although no cases have been reported on campus, Fred Hilton, director of media relations, said that all students should be alert. "It’s better to be safe than sorry," he said.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or other related incidents should contact the HPD at 434-2545.