Police are asking the community for help in the wake of three “similar” sexual assaults that have taken place in less than a week in the Southside neighborhood near the UC Berkeley campus.

In each of these cases, the suspect targeted college-age Asian women, police said in a statement released Thursday evening.

Berkeleyside reported Wednesday about two of those incidents. Police did not say at that time that a third incident had also taken place.

Thursday, police released video of a man identified as a “possible suspect in these cases.” They released two versions of the video: at regular speed (above) and slowed down (below).

The suspect was described as a black or East Indian man in his early 20s, 5 foot 9 inches to 6 feet tall, with dark curly hair or dreadlocks pulled back, wearing a dark-colored jacket and pants, and a hooded sweatshirt.

The first incident took place Thursday, Feb. 11, at 9:10 p.m. when a man sexually assaulted a woman in the 2500 block of Haste Street. The 21-year-old UC Berkeley student was walking when she was grabbed from behind and pushed to the ground, police said, before being sexually assaulted.

Tuesday night, at about 11 p.m., a second woman was assaulted near Durant Avenue and Ellsworth Street. (Police had not previously released any information about this incident, and included no further details.)

About 20 minutes later, a third woman was assaulted nearby, in the 2500 block of Benvenue Street. According to a statement released Thursday by UCPD, the man approached her from behind and “used a bear hug to restrain” her, “and then sexually assaulted her.” In that incident, the victim chased the suspect through UC Berkeley’s Unit 2 parking lot, and he was last seen running west on Haste.

“BPD is sharing this suspect description, and a video of a possible suspect, in an effort to identify the suspect and protect the community,” according to the statement. “In addition, BPD is sharing information with the University of California Police Department.”

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Police ask anyone with information regarding these assaults to call the BPD Special Victims Unit at 510-981-5735. For crimes in progress, call 911. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Police have also released the following safety tips:

Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings

Stay away from isolated areas

Travel on well-lit streets

Whenever possible, walk in groups

Do not become distracted on the phone or listening to music

Related:

2 sexual assaults near People’s Park in Berkeley in 6 days (02.17.16)

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