Thursday, 4:30 PM
Brookline police issue warning after attacks
By Michael Naughton, GLOBE CORRESPONDENT
Brookline police are urging women to use caution when they are out at night in the wake of three assault and harassment incidents reported by three women on Winchester Street in the past two months.
Residents of Winchester Street said that hearing about assaults occurring just doors away has made them nervous about leaving their homes.
"Am I going to have to be a prisoner in my own house?" wondered one woman who did not want to have her name published because the suspect has not been caught. "I’m afraid to go out."
The most recent assault occurred Tuesday night when a man groped a woman who was jogging toward Boston. When she confronted the man and screamed, he fled down Winchester Street and turned left onto Wellman Street. She lost him on Centre Street, police said.
On Feb. 25, a woman from Boston was walking on Winchester Street when she saw a male standing in nearby bushes. As the woman passed, he exposed himself and fled as the woman began walking faster down the street, police said.
Minutes later, another woman walking on Winchester Street was sexually assaulted. While the woman was listening to her iPod, a man came up behind her, threw her to the ground, and assaulted her until she screamed and he fled, police said.
The attacks occurred between 7 and 9 p.m., police said.
Police believe the same man is behind the assaults. They described the suspect as an Asian or Hispanic male in his early 20s with a medium build, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 8 inches, about 150 pounds, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.
Brookline police are urging women to be aware of their surroundings and not to be distracted when walking in the area.
"It’s fine to go out alone, but stay aware of your surroundings and try not to use items like an iPod or cellphone that would be distracting," said police Captain John O’Leary.
