A male suspect dubbed by Massachusetts police as the Boston Tickler has been breaking into homes in the Brighton area, watching students who attend the local college as they sleep — sometimes tickling their feet.
At least three students who attend Boston College reported a run-in with the suspect — who’s described as black, about 5-foot-7 and dressed in dark clothing, including a hoodie — all on the same night, the New York Post reported. The Brighton area is home to a lot of college students who live off-campus, police said.
“This is no myth,” said Boston Police Sgt. Michael O’Hara, in the New York Post.
Now, The Tickler’s criminal activities may be escalating. Several witnesses said to police that they’ve seen the suspect peering into their windows, while he commits a sexual act, the New York Post reported.
B.C. junior Teddy Raddell said he awoke one morning last last year to the sound of someone running down the steps of his home, which he shares with a handful of other students.
“I thought my roommate had fallen down the steps,” he said, to Boston.com. “But then [my roommate] started yelling. I got up and he said that he had woken up to someone touching his feet.”
Another student said he experienced the same thing — that he woke up to his feet being tickled.
“I thought my friend was just trying to annoy me, but I soon realized it wasn’t anyone I knew,” B.C. junior Daniel Marenzi said, the New York Post reported. “I freaked out and sat up but he was already on the way out.”
Police say to be on alert — it’s no joke.
“Absolutely students should be concerned,” said Sgt. O’Hara, in the newspaper. “You don’t know what this guy is going to do, or if he has a weapon. You need to lock your doors. It’s not as safe as you think.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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