Special Report>>

San Diego Police Department - July 2, 2009

DNA LINKS SUSPECT IN HOME INVASION AND SEXUAL ASSAULT SERIES

(San Diego)  DNA testing has linked Thomas James Parker (39) to a series of home invasions robberies and sexual assaults over the past 13 months.  Parker was arrested at about 1:30 PM on July 1, 2009, after he attacked a woman in her garage, in the Mission Valley area.  The woman fought off her attacker and chased him as he ran through the condominium complex, to a nearby shopping center, where he was taken into custody by off-duty U.S. Border Patrol Agents.

The series of attacks began on June 6, 2008, in the 5500 block of Montezuma Road, in the college area.  In the first six incidents, the victims were all Asian females.  The suspect attacked the victims as they returned home from shopping or running errands and gained entry through an open garage door or open front door of the residence.  In each case the suspect threatened the victim with a knife, demanded money, and threatened to or did sexually assault the victim. 

The second case occurred November 7, 2008, in the 9200 block of Regents Road in the UC San Diego, Mesa Housing area.  The UC San Diego Police Department is investigating that case.   The third case occurred on January 16, 2009, in the 5100 block of Camino Playa De Oro, in Tierrasanta.  The next two cases occurred in the Carmel Valley area on February 10, 2009, in the 10500 block of Whispering Hills Lane and on March 4, 2009, in the 3700 block of Carmel View Road.  The sixth case occurred on April 28, 2009, in the 6500 block of Reflections Drive, in the Mission Valley Area.

Detectives from the San Diego Police Department Robbery and Sex Crimes Units and the UC San Diego Police Department, as well as patrol officers from several area commands, officers from specialized units, Crime Analysis, lab personnel from the San Diego Police Department and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department have worked in collaboration on this series for the past 13months.  The detectives have investigated over 140 tips that were received from citizen.

Detectives met with the District Attorney’s Office today to discuss the cases and charges that will be filed against Parker.  The District Attorney’s Office will charge Parker for all seven cases in the series.  The exact charges will be announced at a later time.

Anyone with information on concerning this series is asked to call the San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299, UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4358, or Crime Stoppers at(888) 580-8477.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE
San Diego Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           CONTACT: Capt. Jim Collins
April 30, 2009                                                                 (619) 531-2775

SERIES-RELATED HOME INVASION ROBBERY AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE

(San Diego) Detectives from the SDPD Robbery and Sex Crimes Units are investigating a home invasion robbery and sexual assault that occurred Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at about 11:30 a.m., in the 6500 block of Reflection Drive. The assault is believed to be the sixth case in a series that began in June 2008 in the College Area. (Refer to news release dated March 13, 2009)

In Tuesday’s case, the victim had just returned home from shopping, took her 18-month-old child into the house, and returned to her vehicle to retrieve additional items. As the victim re-entered her apartment, the suspect grabbed her from behind and threatened her with a knife. The suspect first demanded cash then sexually assaulted the victim. After the assault, the suspect left the scene and the victim was able to take her child and flee out the back of the apartment to get help. The child was not injured.

The suspect in this case is described as a white or Hispanic male, approximately 30-years-old, 5’6” tall, medium build. He was wearing a black jacket, denim jeans, and black shoes. The suspect’s method of operation is similar in all of the cases; attacking women shortly after they return home. The suspect enters through an open garage or front door, generally while the victim is carrying items into the home. The suspect demands cash and either threatens a sexual assault or commits a sexual assault. All of the victims are Asian women, between the ages of 20 and 48.

Women are advised to be aware of their surroundings at all times; especially when returning home alone. Look in the rear-view mirror of your vehicle to make sure no one is following you. When you arrive home, look for suspicious persons loitering around your home. If you see someone suspicious, drive around the block and make sure the person has gone. If he is still there, drive a safe distance away and call police. While at home, keep you garage door closed and your doors locked.

Anyone with information regarding this case, or the series is asked to call the San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299, the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4358, or Crime Stoppers anonymous, toll-free tip line at (888) 580-8477.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------