San Diego
Police are searching for a serial rapist who struck Wednesday for the eighth time in two years.
Police spokesman Bill Robinson said Friday that the latest victim was attacked at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in her house in the 8000 block of Via Mallorca in La Jolla by a man who said he wanted to buy items she had advertised for sale in the newspaper.
The suspect, who had made an appointment to see the 24-year-old woman, assaulted her at gunpoint and tied her up before taking money and escaping on foot.
Police have dubbed it the “Room-for-Rent” assaults because the rapist has told some victims that he was responding to “roommate wanted” ads. In other cases, the man said he was responding to newspaper “for sale” and “for rent” ads, Robinson said.
Police Lt. Jerry Moody described the rapist as being white, in his late 20s to early 40s, with short, dark hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. In all cases, he wore wire-rimmed glasses and has been armed with a handgun or a knife.
Robinson said, “It’s a good idea for women to have another person with them when allowing strangers in the house.”
The rapist also struck June 4 in the 7100 block of Amherst Street in La Mesa.
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