Police are warning Londoners to be “vigilant” when out walking alone after a rare string of sexual assaults by strangers in different parts of the city, including a vicious knife-point attack last weekend.

The assault of a woman, who said she was grabbed from behind and pulled to the ground by a man with a knife near Highbury Avenue and Cheapside Street Saturday night, is the third reported stranger attack against a woman at night since Oct. 20.

Police are still seeking suspects in all three cases.

“There is nothing right now to suggest (they) are related, but investigators are open to that possibility and we are hoping anyone with information comes forward,” said Const. Sandasha Bough.

“Every one of these happened at night. We’re telling people to be vigilant of their surroundings while walking in dark areas or alone. Be cautious and carry a cellphone,” she said. “If something doesn’t seem right, call us. We will investigate.”

Stranger sexual assaults are rare. Most sexual assaults occur in the home and are committed by someone close to the victim, not a stranger, according to statistics compiled for the federal government and posted at sexassault.ca.

“It is something we don’t see very often here in the city of London” said Bough, of the reported attacks by a stranger.

But AnnaLise Trudell, of Sexual Assault Centre London, said public awareness campaigns about sexual assault must go beyond educating potential victims to be careful.

“I don’t want that to become the narrative, where we start watching about where we walk, where we run, because the onus is always on the perpetrator,” said Trudell. “As a survivor, (telling people to be vigilant) has a certain connotation to victim blaming.

“There are men mostly in the world who are perpetrating sexual assault. We should be educating our boys and men what consent looks like and stigmatizing male rape culture,” she said.

She praised a recent news releases issued by three London sports teams — Western Mustangs, London Lightning and FC London — condemning so-called locker-room talk.

“It is precisely this attitude that has contributed to the culture of sexual violence against women that exists in our society today,” said a news release issued by Western Mustangs.

Trudell said such leadership will have an impact on violence against women.

“We are going to change a culture that doesn’t accept any sexual violence, rather than just being careful that sexual violence doesn’t happen to you,” she said.

Along with the three unsolved cases during the past three weeks, police investigated and have laid sexual assault charges against a 26-year-old man after a woman said she was accosted by someone with whom she took a ride

Police are searching for suspects in the following sexual assault investigations:

Saturday, Nov. 5.

Just after 11 p.m. on Genevive Place, near Highbury and Cheapside a woman was assaulted. Suspect is described as having a deep voice and possibly “scruffy” growth on his face. He was wearing a dark, long sleeved shirt.

Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Just after 7 p.m., on a Northwest London trail behind Acorn and Edgehill crescents, a woman jogger was grabbed and assaulted. Police have not released a suspect description, but have issued a public plea asking a man who came to the assistance of the victim to contact them.

Monday, Oct. 17

A lone woman was walking on Adelaide Street North, between Huron Street and Kipps Lane, when she was approached by a man who spoke to her briefly before grabbing and touching her inappropriately. The woman broke free and wasn’t injured. The suspect is described as a white man in his 30s with a slim build and a red-brown goatee. He was wearing a toque and dark-coloured sweat shirt, spoke with an accent and was walking a large dog, possibly named Molly. Police have released a composite sketch.

Police are asking anyone with information about any of the investigations to contact them at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.londoncrimestoppers.com.

JLOBrien@postmedia.com

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