San Diego

San Diego police warned residents in the San Carlos area to lock their car doors and be alert for strangers after reports that one man has raped four women in the area since October.

In most of the assaults, which occurred Oct. 21, Jan. 11, Feb. 1 and Feb. 17, the rapist approached the women at night as they were getting out of their cars, forced them back inside, drove them to a secluded area, then raped them, police spokesman Dave Cohen said.

In one case, the man approached a woman sunbathing in the early afternoon, forced her to take him to her apartment, then raped her there, Cohen said.

Police have a composite sketch of the man and describe him as white, 5 feet, 8 inches to 6 feet tall, 30 to 40 years old, weighing 150 to 160 pounds, wearing glasses and having a mustache and full beard.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police Sex Crimes Unit at 531-2325.