Police are investigating a possible connection between two attempted sexual assaults in the past week at a primarily student-occupied apartment complex. The latest occurred a few days after a student was sexually abused at her home near campus.

The latest incident happened at University House, 2525 E. Anklam Road, at about 7:40 p.m. Thursday. A 20-year-old woman was confronted by a man who entered her bedroom through an unlocked window, said Sgt. Marco Borboa, Tucson Police Department spokesman.

The man took off a window screen to get into the bedroom, and the victim resisted the sexual assault.

"There was a physical confrontation after which the suspect left the same way he had entered going through the window," Borboa said.

The victim had some minor injuries, but did not need medical attention, Borboa said.

A similar attempted sexual assault occurred in the same apartment complex Nov. 10 around 9:40 p.m. An armed man confronted a 21-year-old woman after entering through an unlocked door, Borboa said. The man fled when the victim's roommate came into the room.

The third incident involved an 18-year-old student and occurred on Nov. 16 around 2:50 p.m. The student was confronted as she was walking through a breezeway near her complex at North Tyndall Avenue and East Adams Street. According to police, the man inappropriately touched the victim in a manner police are referring to as sexual abuse. Police did not classify the incident as an attempted sexual assault, which would imply an attempted rape.

However, a friend of the victim said the man was trying to rape the student and said the student escaped when the man reached to take off his belt.

Borboa said police are investigating whether the two incidents at University House are connected, but said the third incident may also be linked. Police are comparing the descriptions of the subject in each case.

"We can't conclusively say they're connected, but we're comparing information to identify the suspect or suspects," he said.

Several female students on campus are more fearful after hearing about all of the recent sexual assaults.

Alex Goodhand, an art history junior, said she lives close to where many of the sexual assaults have been happened and said her roommates have all bought pepper spray.

"I'm scared and I'm not the type of person to get freaked out. I've lived here for two years and never felt threatened until now," she said. "I'd like to feel safe walking to my car, and I don't and it's kind of sad."

Borboa said almost all of the recent sexual assaults and sexual assault attempts have happened after a suspect entered an unlocked door or window.

"We're talking with young female students and reminding them of safety tips, especially locking doors and windows," he said. "It's common with apartments with multiple occupants to leave their doors unlocked."

Goodhand said she and her roommates used to leave the front door unlocked during the day but said she now keeps it locked all the time.

Isabel Heyer, a general biology freshman, said her parents now pick her up from school and work because they don't want her walking alone to her car.

"Everyone thought it had stopped when they caught that rapist," she said. "I used to think it was safe."

Heyer was referring to the arrest of Israel Andrew Rivera, 20, on Nov. 11 in connection with four sexual assaults and an aggravated assault in October and November in neighborhoods north of campus.

The victims in those cases are three women and a man in their 20s along with a teenage girl.

Heyer said she's taken extra precautions and said it's frustrating to have to change her daily life.

"People want to go to school and not worry about being assaulted," she said. "Now we're taught to always be aware of what's going on, and people are taking more self-defense classes. It's kind of ridiculous."

Serina Monder, a history sophomore, said she hasn't changed her lifestyle since she's always been cautious, but said she's a little more fearful.

"I'm always watching my back; it's irritating. We shouldn't have to feel fearful when we go out, and now it's always a concern," she said.

Borboa said students should also follow other safety tips like not traveling alone and always letting someone know where they are. Students can also ask for an escort from SafeRide or the University of Arizona Police Department if they feel uneasy.

"We know these aren't foolproof, but they reduce the opportunity for an assault," he said.

Anyone with information on the recent sexual assaults is encouraged to call 88-CRIME.

For information on self-defense classes, students can call the OASIS Program for sexual assault and relationship violence at 626-2051.