Phoenix police believe a man sexually assaulted two Ahwatukee Foothills women living within a half-mile of one another Friday morning.
About 2 a.m., a man forced his way into the apartment of a 20-year-old woman at Pinnacle at South Mountain apartments, 5151 E. Guadalupe Road, Phoenix detective Tony Morales said.
He assaulted the woman as she slept, Morales said.
The Pinnacle at South Mountain complex is gated, the parking lot is flooded with lights at night and neighbor Alexa Yassi, 21, said a security guard roams the grounds after dark.
"It looks nice, but with the things you hear . . . it’s like, maybe it’s time to take some precautions like buy some Mace," Yassi said.
"I guess you get that anywhere, but it’s a frightening thing."
Yassi said letters were left on residents’ doors Friday during the day, notifying them of the sexual assault.
Police think the same man went through an unlocked door earlier in the morning, about 1 a.m., at Rancho Ladera Apartments, 9605 S. 48th St., Morales said.
He woke a 30-year-old woman in the apartment and verbally and sexually assaulted her, then left, Morales said.
The attacker in each instance was described as heavyset, white, around 30 years old with a pot belly, Morales said.
He was last seen wearing a dark sweat shirt, gray jeans and tennis shoes.
The victims saw no weapon or vehicle, Morales said.
Detectives canvassed the neighborhood in hopes of finding someone who heard or saw something, Morales said.
