Detectives have linked a man who sexually assaulted and robbed a woman last Nov. 7 at her home at the University of California, San Diego’s Mesa housing to similar cases in Tierrasanta, Carmel Valley and San Diego. “There was just one [related attack] on campus and four others within the city of San Diego,” UCSD Police Department Detective Melissa Collins said. Collins said the Nov. 7 sexual assault occurred in the university’s Mesa housing off Regents Road. Police said the suspect — described as a 20- to 30-year-old white or Hispanic male, 5 feet 6 to 9 inches tall, with a thin to medium build — waited for the victim at the 9200 block of Regents Road, entering through an open doorway. He allegedly demanded money and sexually assaulted her, police said. “In all of the cases, he’s following them through an open front door,” Collins said. “He seems to be targeting Asian females. If you’re returning home, look around.” Collins said the victim in the university’s case did not have a garage, but the other victims did, which their attacker utilized, police said. “They think he’s a neighbor — he sort of blends in,” Collins said. November’s attack was not the rapist’s first. Police said they discovered that the first linked case occurred June 6, 2008 in the 6500 block of Montezuma Road. “In that case, a suspect confronted the victim in her apartment, demanded money and sexually assaulted the victim,” the San Diego Police Department said in a press release. According to police, the rapist attacked and robbed the UCSD victim next. Then, on Jan. 16, 2009, police said the robber attacked another woman inside her garage in the 5100 block of Camino Playa de Oro, Tierra-santa, taking cash. In addition, SDPD said the rapist attacked two more women in Carmel Valley, on Feb. 10 in the 10000 block of Whispering Hills Lane and on March 4 in the 3700 block of Carmel View Road. The rapist attacked both victims inside their garages, police said. According to SDPD, though the rapist only threatened to sexually assault one woman, he assaulted both women. “I’m not seeing an escalation in violence yet,” Collins said. “But if it is the same person we’re seeing, they’re coming more frequently.” Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers, (888) 580-8477, UCSDPD at (858) 534-4359 or SDPD at (619) 531-2299.