The Chico Police Department said it’s reporting a number of assaults – several of them sexual in nature – against college-age women that have taken place in the area of California State University, Chico’s south campus neighborhood.

Sgt. Scott Franssen said the attacks go back to to August 2011, with the most recent occurring on Aug. 26, Sept. 1 and Sept. 22.

Franssen said police detectives noticed that two of the most recent incidents involved “newer,” “nice” black BMW or Lexus cars.

In the fall of 2011 police received reports of females being attacked and sprayed with pepper spray. In two of those incidents the suspect was associated with a similarly described vehicle. In one of those incidents the victim was pushed down but she fought off her attacker, Franssen said.

Not all of these young women were sexually assaulted, probably because they fought their attackers, according to Franssen.

Common to all of these attacks is that the victims were alone, either walking or waiting, he said. The majority of them were walking home alone in the very early morning hours.

Another common factor in the attacks, said Franssen, was the use of alcohol and varying levels of intoxication amongst the majority – not all – of the victims. That intoxication may be one of the weaknesses that the perpetrators prey upon.

In five of the cases there was some level of sexual assault. In one of those cases – which occurred on Jan. 29 – the suspect was arrested, Franssen said.

Police are asking community members to take precautions to protect themselves and each other, including not walking alone at night and keeping alcohol consumption to a reasonable level in order to be less vulnerable.

The Chico Police Department also is asking for help in solving these crimes and preventing others. Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Chico Police Department at 530-897-4900.