LAPD warns public of sexual-predator prowler

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Police are seeking the public's help to find a man who broke into two apartments of women in Los Angeles and assaulted them before taking off.

Both incidents happened in Los Angeles on Monday.

In both cases, he managed to enter locked apartment complexes and then got into individual apartment units that had been left unlocked by their occupants.

In the first incident, the suspect entered the front door of a woman's apartment that had been left unlocked while she was in the building's laundry room.

When she came back to her apartment, the suspect was inside. He covered her mouth with his hand, pushed her against a wall and knocked her to the floor, police said.

The woman began to scream, which scared off the suspect, police said.

That incident was around 12:20 p.m. in the 800 block of North Mariposa Avenue.

The second incident was about an hour later and about three miles away in the 1600 block of Cortez Street.

In that case, the same suspect entered the front door of an apartment that had been left unlocked while the woman was at home.

The suspect entered the apartment and told the woman: "You're pretty, I want to make you mine!"

Police say the man approached the woman and placed his hand inside her blouse and began to fondle her.

When she tried to pull away, he pinned her against a couch. The victim's dogs bit the suspect on the leg, and she was able to push him away and get him out of the apartment.

"This predator needs to be off the street," said LAPD Officer Mike Lopez. "We wanted to make sure the community is aware of this individual. Be aware of their surroundings and make sure they keep their doors locked."

Police released surveillance footage of the suspect. They described him as a black man, about 25 to 30 years old, with black hair, about 6 feet tall and weighing 170-190 pounds.

He was wearing an olive-green shirt with a picture of the Virgin Mary, as well as blue jeans and white shoes. He was also seen carrying a plastic bag. Surveillance video shows him entering the buildings as other people were leaving.

Police asked anyone with information to contact Rampart Divisions detectives at (213) 484-3487 or (213) 484-3486. Anonymous tips may be provided to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.