Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

A female student was the victim of a Peeping Tom incident at her Hyattsville home late last month, police said.

According to a crime report prepared by University Police, the student was in a second-floor bedroom on Pennsylvania Street about 11 p.m. on May 22 when she heard a noise outside her window and saw a man running away. Police found lawn furniture stacked outside to reach her window, where they believe the suspect was able to stand to look inside.

Hyattsville Police Spokesman Greg Phillips said there wasn't enough information to determine whether this was related to a rash of Peeping Tom incidents involving females in the College Park area.

University Police Spokesman Paul Dillon said Prince George's County Police and Hyattsville police are working together to investigate the incident, but University Police aren't investigating anything involving Peeping Toms.

"The only description we have is that of a male; there were no other identifiers provided by the complainant," Phillips wrote in an e-mail. He also said it was possible the suspect was trying to break into the house rather than just look inside.

Phillips said there is "nothing indicating" that students living in the area over the summer are any less at risk of Peeping Tom incidents than those who are only in town for the regular semesters. He advised students to keep window blinds and shades closed "as much as is practicable" and to keep lawns well lit to discourage Peeping Tom activity.

A previous Peeping Tom was responsible for about 10 voyeurism incidents last year.

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