Police are warning women who walk around Cambridge to be alert after a pair of recent violent attacks on females who were both wearing earphones.
The various attacks occurred about a half-mile from each other on separate nights. Both were near Harvard Square.
The first attack occurred Sunday about 1:30 a.m. near Kirkland and Trowbridge streets where a woman in her 20s was thrown to the ground by a man. She was walking alone and was wearing headphones, police said. She was knocked unconscious and was robbed of her iPhone and purse.
A second attack occurred Monday about 11:15 p.m. when a woman in her 20s was physically assaulted by a man near Ellery and Harvard streets. She was also walking alone and wearing headphones, police said, and she was robbed of her iPhone.
Both women described the attacker as light-skinned black or white man in his 30s.
Police said detectives are investigating if the same man is responsible for both attacks, but they have not confirmed that yet.
Authorities have also shared the information with Harvard University as well as MIT and other schools because of the location of the attacks and that the age of the victims.
“We did place extra patrols in the area, and what we’re really trying to get across is for residents to heed the safety tips,” said Dan Riviello, a Cambridge police spokesman.
Police urged people to be aware of their surroundings and to not wear earphones while walking alone. They also urged people to walk with confidence and to look at the person if they feel they are being followed.
