Police investigating repeated car break-ins

Three vehicles were broken into Wednesday night in the parking lot of the Campus View Apartments. All three had similar methods of entry, said IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger. The cars all had windows broken and marks on the dash from where the thief apparently attempted to pry the stereos out. The cars had significant damage but very little was actually stolen, Minger said. A small amount of change was reported stolen from one car and a cell phone was stolen from another. \n"This didn't look like a very experienced thief, but you never know," he said. \nIUPD is stepping up patrols in the area since it appears that one perpetrator committed the crimes. \nMinger urged anyone who heard or saw suspicious activity Wednesday night to contact IUPD at 855-4111.\nJuvenile reports sexual assault near Ashton\nA 17-year-old black male reported to IUPD that he was sexually assaulted Thursday evening between Read Center and Ashton-Mason. The young man, who is at IU attending a conference, was approached at roughly 5:30 p.m. by a middle-aged white male and asked obscene questions. The man then pulled down his pants and reached out and grabbed the victim on the buttocks. At which point the victim told the man, "I'm only 17," said Minger. The perpetrator then laughed, pulled up his pants, and walked away. \nIUPD is evaluating all known sexual offenders in Bloomington to see if their behavior matches that of the Thursday assault, but officers have no specific suspect yet, Minger said.\nThe perpetrator is described as a white male between 30 and 40 years of age, roughly 6'1" tall and a stocky build. He had a blonde goatee and wore faded blue jeans and sun glasses and a dark leather cap. \nThe man approached the victim from the east, from the area near the Wright Education Building. \nAnyone with information about the assault is urged to call IUPD at 855-4111 to report it.