A recent rape in Maywood may be connected to other break-ins and sexual assaults in the area that began in October, sheriff's deputies said.
The string of burglaries and sexual battery began Oct. 5. The sixth incident, reported on Nov. 13, was the first rape, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department East Los Angeles Station.
The man is described as a male Hispanic with a "child-like" appearance, between 18 and 20 years old, between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a thin build, wide lips and "bad odor," and speaking Spanish, according to authorities.
Deputies could only say that this latest incident, which happened just one day after another similar attack, occurred 5 a.m. Sunday. The victim is out of the hospital.
Authorities believe the pattern of behavior described by witnesses points to a single suspect being the culprit.
In each case, the attacker entered the home through a window at pre-dawn hours and confronted the victim. In the first incident, the attacker grabbed the victim's breasts as she sat in her living room, before the victim pushed him away and forced him out of the house, authorities said.
On Oct. 18, about half a mile away from the first incident, the attacker entered a couple's bedroom around 2:30 a.m. before being scared off when one of the victims woke up and yelled at him.
Roughly and hour-and-a-half later, a victim awoke to the suspect touching her in an "intimate body part." The victim ran and called police after she locked herself in a bedroom, but the attacker was gone when police arrived.
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The next day, the attacker entered another home and covered the mouth of a "female juvenile" who slept in her bed, according to the sheriff's department.
"The guy was like, 'Shut up, shut up, don't do anything,'" said the mother of the victim. "His hand on her mouth and she (fought) and kicked him and she was able to scream to us."
But the attacker was still able to flee after being confronted and punched by the victim's father.
The Nov. 12 incident involved the attacker entering an underage girl's room and covering her mouth. The victim's mother heard a noise and went in to check on her daughter as the attacker fled.
Sheriff's deputies are warning residents to stay alert and to lock their windows, doors and leave their porch lights on.
A $5,000 reward is being offered for the capture of the attacker. Anyone with information is asked to contact detective Hector Andujo at 323-981-5051 or the on-duty watch commander at 323-264-4151.
