Dallas police say a burglar in Old East Dallas may also be a serial rapist.
Investigators said they believe the man is behind a series of early-morning crimes in the area bordered by Central Avenue to the east, Mockingbird Lane to the north, Ross Avenue to the south and Abrams to the west.
In every case, the burglar entered homes through an unlocked door or window between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., police said.
Police said some of the victims awoke to find the man in their bedrooms -- and even in their beds.
"The manner in which he enters, the way he speaks to people and the physical description leads us to believe it could potentially be a serial rapist," Lt. Craig Miller said.
Police are investigating six similar crimes off of lower Greenville Avenue, the first of which occurred in October.
In that case, a burglar entered a home on Penrose Avenue through an unlocked kitchen window. Police said he raped a 25-year-old woman in her sleep.
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"What we want to do is get the word out to lock your doors, lock your windows," Miller said.
Police said they believe the man has so far sexually assaulted only one of his victims. Investigators suspect he may have been scared off by other people in the house or an alarm system in the other cases.
Joann Donovan and her husband slept through a break-in at their house on Vanderbilt Avenue.
"It is very discomforting to know someone has broken into your home or been in your home," she said.
Donovan said she and her husband have tightened their security.
"No, we won't be without an alarm system again," she said.
