(November 7, 2002, posted 8:30 a.m.) -- The suspected ELB/Belmont Shore rapist may have tried to strike again early this morning...this time in the area of Lakewood Blvd. and Stearns St.
Details are sketchy as we post. LBPD says an attempted sexual assault took place at roughly 1:00 a.m today in the area of Lakewood Blvd. and Stearns St. A woman in 30's awoke to find an intruder in her residence and a physical fight ensued. The woman fled her residence and alerted neighbors who called police.
LBPD set up perimeter with helicoper and canine and patrol officers and at midmorning officers were in the process of gathering additional details.
On August 15 near Willow and Lakewood, a 33 year old woman was attacked and assaulted in her home...but police say she fought off her attacker.
At the time, police indicated they were investigating the possibility that the August 15 LB attack was linked to an August 13 Huntington Beach burglary/assault on a woman in her early 70's near the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station shortly before midnight. That victim also fought off her attacker.
On June 26, the same rapist is believed to have struck in Belmont Heights in the area of Broadway near Ximeno, assaulting a 61 year old woman in her bed at 2:30 a.m.
LBPD says it has physical evidence linking the serial rapist to eight rapes in LB, plus one in Huntington Beach and one in Los Alamitos.
LBPD continues to urge residents to keep their doors and windows locked.