Residents lock up after attacks
Sexual assaults make downtown college students wary of leaving home unsecured
Contact information
TO OFFER TIPS: Anyone with information that could help solve recent cases in Charleston is asked to call 577-7434. Anyone with information about the recent sexual assault in North Charleston is asked to call 554-5700. Anonymous tips also can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 554-1111 or 5541111.com. Texters can send Crime Stoppers tips to CRIMES, or 274637, and mark the beginning of the message as "tip213."
PEOPLE AGAINST RAPE: 745-0144, peopleagainstrape.org.
SOUTH CAROLINA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT: 803-256-2900, sccadvasa.org
The Post and Courier
Harleston Village resident Bailey Peters said she and her female roommates shared one key to their place until last month when a man broke into her neighbor's house and tried to rape a young woman.
They just left the front door unlocked. But things have changed, said Peters, 19, a Clemson University student. Now, Peters and her three College of Charleston roommates each have keys so they can secure the house, and the living room curtains that once stood open are drawn closed, she said.
"It really scared us. We definitely started locking our doors," Peters said. "We're all looking out for each other now."
Smith Street, where the May 27 burglary occurred, is filled with young college students, many living together in groups in charming old homes or red brick cottage houses.
In Radcliffeborough, the next neighborhood over, a 20-year-old woman was raped inside her Radcliffe Street home Saturday morning after a burglar broke through the back door.
"All the young girls living here are naive. We're used to being safe," Peters said. "I think that's why it's been so easy for him."
Charleston police say the descriptions match in the cases, which both occurred from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. The intruder was black, 6 feet or taller, age 25 to 30, heavy set with a shaved head or short hair and puffy cheeks.
On Radcliffe Street, he wore blue jeans, a dark polo shirt with a white tank top underneath and black shoes. On Smith Street, he wore a bright yellow or orange shirt, and dark pants. He stole the woman's black Hobo-style purse worth $150.
"The subject had bad body odor (like an unclean person)," one police report reads.
Suspect sketches that Charleston police released Wednesday were not suitable for publication. They both depict a large black man with heavy wrinkles in his forehead.
Mike Robertson, director of media relations at the College of Charleston, said that the victim on Radcliffe Street was a roommate of a student and that the victim on Smith Street was a student who graduated this spring. Because of the connection to the campus, the school sent out e-mails shortly after both incidents.
Police in an e-mail Tuesday night warned people who live in the area to watch out for each other.
"Particularly vulnerable are homes occupied by female college-age residents, whom the suspect may view as less of a threat," wrote Sgt. Trevor Shelor, the city's Crime Prevention Officer.
Police on Wednesday would not address whether there are more, similar cases.
"With any crime ... we always go back and look for similarities, and that's what we're doing," said Charles Francis, police public information officer.
Francis also wouldn't address whether Charleston police were working with other local agencies about any similar cases in other jurisdictions.
There was a burglary and rape of a 24-year-old woman reported about 5 a.m. Monday at a home in the McMillan Avenue area of North Charleston. The suspect in that case was a dark-skinned, black man in his early to middle twenties, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 230 pounds. North Charleston and Charleston police said they don't think the North Charleston case is related to the downtown incidents.
Charleston police blacked out much of the detail in their police reports about the downtown cases. That was necessary because the redacted information is critical to the ongoing investigation, Francis said.
The Post and Courier requested copies of the 911 calls from both homes. Francis said officials planned to review the tapes today and consider that request.
The South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault strongly encourages the release of information about sexual assaults by strangers as soon as it is available.
"Informing the public is important," Executive Director Vicki Bourus said. "There are ways you can report on these crimes that are ethical, appropriate and helpful."
Meanwhile, it is wise during this time of year to resist the temptation to leave windows open or unlocked, both at home and while driving.
"Sexual assault cases always go up in the summertime," said Melonea Locklair, the executive director of People Against Rape, a local nonprofit that helps rape survivors. "You almost have to be hypervigilant."
Researchers in the United Kingdom noted that sexual assaults are more frequent during warm weather and on weekends, according to a 2007 report in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Locklair said she's seen the connection with high temperatures documented in several studies.
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Comments
moonpie (anonymous) says...
"All the young girls living here are naive."
Parents that send their kids off to school just love to hear this kind of stuff don't they. LOCK YOUR DOORS GIRLS! PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
June 19, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TOROGSC (anonymous) says...
WE SHOULD FIRST GET RID OF THE LOW LIFE THUGS!!
THE GIRLS PARENTS OR LANDLORD SHOULD INSPECT THE DOOR
AND WINDOW LOCKS AND UPGRADE IF NEEDED,BOLT THE WINDOWS
CLOSED.THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR!!!
June 19, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tellthetruth (anonymous) says...
Don't live in the jungle and you do'nt have to worry about being attacked by the monkeys!
June 19, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
number1volsfan1 (anonymous) says...
Smith and Wesson, the only security deposit you'll ever need.
June 19, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
With Mayor Joesph P. Riley, Jr.'s, World Class, Best in America, police department protecting the City of Charleston, the security firm of Smith and Wesson may be the best option.
June 19, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlestonpride (anonymous) says...
On the news last night they showed a pencil sketch of the criminal. We live in the 21st century and we are still using pencil sketches just like they did in the wild west! How about a color, digital sketch for the public to have a better idea of what this creep looks like! These black and white pencil drawings don't let us know anything about his skin color, eye color, etc....Spend a few bucks and give us a picture that will help the public.
June 19, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
marriott99 (anonymous) says...
Really, when are we going to start bulldozing the other side of the crosstown? Besides being the breeding ground of these vermin, it looks like hell. Rotting wooden structures, grafiti, ads for bail bondsmen, threatening looking characters wandering about. It's high time for some political will and some action.
June 19, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
I can't get over the fact of young women not knowing to lock the door.Are you kidding me?My toddler knows that doors should be locked.My other daughter locks doors obsessively.We have taught them simple safety from the time they could understand.No one ever deserves to be assaulted and I hope they catch this sick stanky bastard.Time for the college to teach these girls basic safety.Their parents obviously didnt do a good enough job.
June 19, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dr_fed (anonymous) says...
mariott99 said
"Really, when are we going to start bulldozing the other side of the crosstown? Besides being the breeding ground of these vermin, it looks like hell. Rotting wooden structures, grafiti, ads for bail bondsmen, threatening looking characters wandering about. It's high time for some political will and some action."
Hey your talking about Joe Riley's voting base here.
June 19, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigSargeofSC (anonymous) says...
I think its time for some solid gun control:
1. Good sight picture.
2. Steady breathing.
3. Proper trigger squeeze.
A shotgun is the best home defense weapon as opposed to single-shot weapons like .380's, .22's, or .38's. More specifily, a pump-action shotgun is the best for two reasons. First of all, the spead of the pellets will help to ensure a first-round hit. Second, the sound of the shotgun chambering a round is scary enough to make most people run. Might also look into some self defense classes. I assisted my TKD Master in teaching some college ladies varioius things, such as how to use a driver's license as a knife.
CB is right about advertising a weapon in the house. If you want to put something on a window, put a sticker from an alarm company. It will at least make them stop and think for a moment.
June 19, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weeeee (anonymous) says...
It almost makes me want to move closer to crime-ridden neighborhoods just so I can shoot an intruder. How morbid is that? I apologize for that, but even so, I'm weary of reading about these predators not getting what's coming to them. Women are seen as targets by these scum. I can only hope they will start arming themselves and putting more of this trash underground.
June 19, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
This has to be Riley's fault. He must have issued this man a weiner, too much testosterone and forgot to teach him how to wash his body. Down with the mayor for raping these girls and killing all those firemen--what kind of mayor would do such things. He probably taught those muslims how to fly planes and gave all you yankess a road map to Charleston so you can complain from your gated suburbs about the real world on the other side.
June 19, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AHLeland (anonymous) says...
While locking doors and windows is always a good idea, another thing this brings to mind is the importance of having a land-line phone in the house. In the age of cell phones as your only means of communication, a land-line can tell a 911 operator where you are even if you can't speak. A cell phone can't do that. Sure they can figure out where you are but it's much easier to get someone to help you when your address pops up on the screen. Spend the extra $30 a month!
June 19, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I never would have thought that anyone left their doors unlocked these days. Lock your doors and windows, and at least buy some of those Sentry door and window alarms if nothing else. The big dogs are a great idea, but alot of landlords don't allow pets, and college students often don't have time to care for them. Get a gun, girls, it is your best line of defense. Please take a gun safety course and know that weapon inside and out. Go to the range and practice, practice, practice. Always shoot to kill, as a wounded man is a very angry one.
My only concern is that someone may get spooked and shoot a roommate by accident.
The colleges need to hold some type of safety classes for some of these girls, as I can't see how they can be so naive as to the dangers around them.
June 19, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Charles_Town (anonymous) says...
Why were the police sketches not suitable for publication?
June 19, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cougars787 (anonymous) says...
The CofC public safety has not been doing their part to prevent these types of crimes. Simply sending out a community notification to all students after the crime happens is not enough. They need to lead events in which they make these students more aware of the dangers of downtown Charleston. Another good idea would be to patrol the residential areas where the students live and hang out at night instead of patrolling the vacant campus at 1:00 AM. I am going into my senior year at the college and have never once seen any signs of the campus police in or around my house at night and I live right near one of these past incidents. President Benson and the school need to use the new tuition increases to increase staff, increase overtime, or come up with another way to protect their students on and off the campus.
June 19, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cb7447 (anonymous) says...
The phone plugged into the wall with no phone service is true you can still get to the operator & 911 well at least you can on my phone before I had it connected either way wouldn't hurt to try it!!
June 19, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kerwin1959 (anonymous) says...
Don't assume all coeds are naive. My daughter lives downtown with her roommates....and a BIG dog. All of the girls have taken self defense classes. They keep their doors locked. Granted, someone could break a window, but they won't be able to lift the sill because they're all pinned. We're now installing a wireless door chime that will activate when the door is opened.
I've noticed there are more college kids from other schools coming to Charleston to live and work during the summer, and many of the girls are sharing rent with one or two of their male friends. Not boyfriends, just friends who are guys. The girls staying by themselves should ask a guy friend to stay over as a watch dog from time to time.
My daughter & her roommates understand the need to take extra precautions at all times. Doors and windows locked, cars locked, communication with each other, and they don't establish a distinct pattern of when they come and go from their house.
I hope this creep meets a bullet or some buckshot if he tries this again.
Maybe it's time for O Great One(Mayor Riley) to consider a curfew until this guy is caught. It's time to take the city back instead of letting low life scum run the streets.
June 19, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LadyTarHeel (anonymous) says...
I'm stuck on the we have 3 roommates and one key idea. I don't care what kind of little bitty town you come from, that still doesn't make good sense. I grew up in the boondocks. We had to go to "town" to go to the grocery store and that was atleast a good 10-15 miles away. I never recall my parents leaving the doors unlocked EVER! When I went to college, I stayed on campus, but I never left my room door unlocked. That's the quickest way to become a victim of property theft. When I moved here, my parents had "the talk" with me about being vigilant of my own safety. Sure, I didn't think I needed to hear it, but it does come in handy from time to time. I don't have the Smith and Wesson security system yet, but I am most definitely considering getting one. Seems that my good ol hammer just might not be enough anymore:o(
June 19, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
marriott99 (anonymous) says...
Check out the police sketches at Live5news.com. Not much of a surprise.
June 19, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forget (anonymous) says...
The phone CAN make emergency calls even if you don't have service. My land lines are still plugged in because of that. My daughter has her cell phone and she knows that she should call 911 from the house phone if possible first. We had a drill and practiced what she should do in case of different emergencies. When she's home alone, she locks the front door and then if she's in her room, she locks that door also. She's making sure nothing short of Bruce Willis of Die Hard is coming in there!
June 19, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCdeacinNYC (anonymous) says...
No, not locking your door IS naive. You live in downtown charleston for pete's, not some gated suburb. (AND even then I would STILL lock my doors) Hell, my parents still live out in the country where we know/are related to everyone and THEY even lock their doors.
People are crazy everywhere and I don't trust them. Downtown Charleston is an urban area where criminals are all over the place. I live in an apartment with three other 20 something year old girls. We always keep our door double-locked. Our apartment has a buzzer system...no one gets up unless we know them and we have a peephole for knockers at the door. All the groundfloor apts in my building have bars on the door.
Like I said yesterday, my mom who is back in SC and lived in NYC for years instilled the fear of God and paranoia in me. The good thing about living in a city is it should teach you how to always be on your guard. You don't have to stop living your life, but a few easy things can help protect you. People in NYC are paranoid though, they dealt with the bad crime waves of the 70s and 80s....do you know how many times I've been walking down the street reaching into my bag ever so slightly only to have some body yell out at me "HEY MISS!! YOU'RE BAGS OPEN...YOU BETTER WATCH THAT" Sometimes its annoying but hey at least i know people are looking out.
June 19, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
buff_o_rilla (anonymous) says...
Posted by LowcountryMoose on June 19, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These coeds should all go to the pound and adopt big ass dogs.
Im not to familiar with "big ass dogs" but im gonna guess the female species would have the best disposition for the job.
June 19, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
acw221981 (anonymous) says...
I think the Police need to do a better job in Policing these areas. It seems like there is more violent crime in that area now. Also, the thugs need to be executed and be publicly executed.
June 19, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wesdun (anonymous) says...
This animal hopefully will be injured by multiple shots that incapacitate him and the shooter will just sit there and forget to call 911 until he or she starts hearing deep, deep gasping... hopefully 1/2 hour or so later. He's probably served time and possibly for the same crime. If he goes to trial he'll get a slick Charleston lawyer who will plea him down to about 3 or 4 years, he'll serve, get out and do it again. One of the problems is more and more gals of this age are now very trusting of this type individual (get my drift) unlike it was years ago.
June 19, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cofcgal85 (anonymous) says...
As a student, I see where these girls were coming from. It's not smart, but when you live south of Calhoun you have this idea in your head that you are much safer than your fellow students up on Spring Street. I live south of Calhoun and honestly have had no problem walking the last few blocks back to my house alone. I obviously won't be doing that anymore, once the cops show up at your door with a police sketch and ask you if youve seen this man that we are talking about, it kind of brings you back to reality.
Nowhere downtown is safe anymore.
June 19, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
"marriott99" how darest thow? these sir or madam are historic buildings that I'm sure are there for two reasons, Joe wants them there for the afore there mentioned voting base, and 2nd Joe wants them there!
We can continue to hope for a hurricane.
June 19, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
CB the caps dude has been here under many different names over the last yr or so... he used to try to argue for the muslim terrorist, saying not all terrorist are bad or something... realizing how many rednecks we have here, both black and white, he gave up and came in under another nick... lol
June 19, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Cid95 (anonymous) says...
I admit to not locking my doors in the past when I lived on Sullivan's Island, IOP and now Mt Pleasant. But, I'm a single guy. A single, armed guy. If someone stole something from my place while I was away I wouldn't blame anyone except myself. If they tried while I was home - they would have only themselves to blame for the rest of their short lives.
And this isn't new! This crap has been going on downtown for years. If anything, it's probably better now than it has been in the past.
Christmas Vacation, when all the college kids go home for a couple weeks, is the busy season for downtown break-ins.
June 19, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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