Bucktown Rapist is Still Out There

Police: don't let your guard down

A woman jogging through a neighborhood already on alert after several attacks on women says she almost became a victim herself, and police are again cautioning residents in the area to be extra alert.

"Lindsay" says she was jogging on Winnebago Avenue near Western in the Bucktown neighborhood last Wednesday around 8 a.m. when a man in jeans ran up from behind her while she was near a vacant lot and a train tracks.

"He runs up, hits the left side of my shoulder and turns around, grabs me, looks at me in the eyes and took off running," Lindsay said, adding that she believes an oncoming car scared the attacker off before he could do anything more.

Lindsay said she went home, changed clothes and then called 911 from work to report the incident.

"The woman who answered the phone told me it was not an immediate emergency, that nothing could be done, and if it happens again to call 911 immediately," Lindsay said.

Calls to 911 are intended for emergencies in progress, officials said.  Police recommend that joggers not wear headphones, run in pairs and call from the scene if an emergency occurs.  Reports can always be filed at a police district office or through 311.

The alleged incident happened within a 17 block range of three sexual assaults since September believed to be committed by the same man.

Police on Monday also issued a community alert after two instances of criminal sexual abuse on the Near Northwest Side.

The first incident occurred on Wednesday, April 8 on the 3000 block of West Grace Street, about 4:15 p.m., the alert said.

The second incident occurred on Thursday, May 7 on the 2800 block of West Palmer Street, about 3:30 p.m.

In both incidents, the offender, described as a Hispanic man in his 20s to late 30s, on a red bicycle, approached the victims and touched them in an inappropriate manner.

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