Boston Police issue alert after two sexual assaults reported on Washington Street in Roxbury

By Evan Allen, Globe Correspondent

Boston Police issued a community alert on Sunday night after two sexual assaults were reported over the weekend at an abandoned property on Washington Street in Roxbury. Both victims described a similar attacker.

The first assault occurred on Saturday morning at around 11:26 a.m, according to the alert, which was posted on the Boston Police Department website. The victim told police that she was approached by a man who began talking to her, and led her to an abandoned property at 2900 Washington St, where he sexually assaulted her and then fled.

The victim described the suspect as a clean-shaven black man in his 30s, between 5’7” and 5’9” tall, and weighing between 150 and 200 pounds. He was wearing a dark colored knit winter watchman’s style cap, a blue jacket with a green under-collar, light-colored pants and dark-colored sneakers with a white tip and a side stripe.

Police said the second assault occurred on Sunday morning at around 7:51 a.m. The victim told police that she had met the suspect earlier in the week, and they had agreed to meet at a local establishment. On Sunday, the two met on Washington Street, and the man led her to the abandoned property where he sexually assaulted her, according to the alert.

The suspect was described as a clean-shaven black man in his 30s, between 5’9” and 5’10” tall, weighing about 200 pounds with a husky build. The man was wearing a blue winter hat, a blue winter jacket, dark-colored pants and possibly black boots, according to the alert.

Both incidents are under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit at (617) 343-4400. Community members who want to assist anonymously can call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463).

Police are reminding residents to be aware of their surroundings, especially at night, and to keep to well-lit and populated areas. Avoid being distracted by cell phones or headphones, avoid walking alone, and keep a whistle within reach. Let friends and family know where you are, carry a cell phone, and hold car keys in hand to use as a weapon.

Victims of sexual assault can contact the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center 24 hour hotline at 1 (800) 841-8371.