The victims are being targeted in the Hansen Dam area. Police say a woman walking a trail around 9:45 p.m. last Thursday was raped.
"The victim was approximately one-quarter of a mile into the park when she was approached by a lone suspect," said Capt. Joseph Hiltner from the LAPD. "The suspect grabbed her and forced her into an isolated area and sexually assaulted her."
Officers are releasing a community alert with the suspect's description.
"The suspect is approximately 5'6 to 5'7 in height, 200 pounds, and 23 to 25 years of age," said Hiltner.
Officers say he has thick eyebrows, bags under his eyes, a mole under his right cheek, and was wearing dark colored clothing.
"It makes me feel a little more scared coming here by myself, even during the day," said Granada Hills resident Maritza Aceves.
Women walking a similar trail say they're not all that surprised.
"I'm not that shocked, there are those people out there," said Pacoima resident Elvia Martinez. "We don't come in the night. We try to come early in the morning."
"You need to have partnership, because partnership is key," said Pacoima resident Roslyn Barnett. "Have a cell phone, and sometimes even pepper spray."
Detectives say that in 2008 there were two different attempted rapes in the same Hansen Dam trail. It is unclear if this suspect is connected with those incidents.
Anyone with information is urged to call the LAPD Foothill Division at 818-834-3115.
