According to the Examiner, there’s a been a recent surge in the number of rapes and attempted rapes in the District, and now police think several of them may be the work of the same man.

It’s frustrating that this is the first we’ve heard about an increase in rapes in the city this year.

The latest incident was on Thursday at around 4 a.m. in the 3300 block of 18th Street NW, near Park Road in Mt. Pleasant. A woman reported a Hispanic male in his late teens or early 20s who broke into her home, raped her and then stole some of her belongings. Police say three previous cases from earlier this year were similar to this one.

In all four cases, the suspect appears to have broken into the homes of women he does not know.

All the usual warnings apply: keep doors and windows locked, don’t walk home alone late at night, and be aware.