Exercise caution at all times: Lock windows, doors despite the heat wave

Cal State Long Beach student Ana Tintocalis thought for sure she was seeing the Belmont Shore rapist.

Sitting in a robe after coming out of the shower to answer the phone, Tintocalis heard a sound and saw a man seated outside her open window, looking at her.

She immediately closed and locked the window and locked her front door and the man fled, Tintocalis said.

The man had a bandana around his face so only his "crazy, dark eyes" were showing, Tintocalis said. When she saw the bandana she "immediately thought that was the guy, that was the guy," referring to the Belmont Shore rapist.

She says she thought it was the rapist because of the bandana and because her neighbor is elderly, two of the rapist's traits.

While police did later arrest a man, they have not connected him with any assaults. Tintocalis' experience nevertheless showed how important it is for people to exercise basic safety tips.

According to Office Jana Blair of the Long Beach Police Department, women should secure doors and windows at night and use fans instead of open windows.

Women also can cool down their homes and still feel secure by purchasing a window lock from a hardware store that prevents the window from being opened further from the outside, Blair said.

John Cude, 35, of Long Beach, was arrested in connection with the July 26 incident at Tintocalis' apartment and is scheduled to be arraigned Aug. 9 on a misdemeanor count of peeping, Blair said.