Los Angeles police say they are investigating after two homeless people were doused with battery acid at a park in Mission Hills early Sunday, causing burns to their bodies.

The incident, reported about 12:10 a.m. Sunday, involved a 42-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man who had been sleeping at Devonwood Park at Devonshire Street and Woodman Avenue, according to LAPD officials.

“The male stated he woke up to his female companion screaming in pain and running from where they were sleeping,” LAPD Officer Tony Im said. “He observed burns on her face and arms and then realized he was also experiencing burns to his skin to a lesser degree.”

The victims said it was the third time in the past three weeks that they had been accosted in their sleep at the same park, Im said. They said they were doused the first time with gasoline and the second time with bleach.

“This is probably intentional — and they are being targeted,” the officer said.

Im said that both were taken to a local hospital on Sunday.

LAPD Detective Donald J. Goossens said the woman had to have surgery on her face, while the man was released the same day from the hospital.

Goossens said there are no suspects at this time. He said the man heard the splashing, felt the burning on his face and jumped up and looked around, but no one was there.

That’s about when his girlfriend started screaming, Goossens said.

“Your whole life has gone to crap, and there you are in a park and someone throws acid on you,” the detective said.

LAPD Mission Division officers recovered a victim’s backpack, which was also damaged by the chemical, Im said.

LAPD asked that anyone with information about the incidents call detectives at 818-838-9800. To offer information anonymously, the public can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or go to lacrimestoppers.org.

“We just want everyone on the streets to be aware of their surroundings and kind of take care of one another,” Im said. “If they do see anything suspicious, contact the police. … We’re here to protect them.”

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article misstated the last name of Detective Donald J. Goossens.