North Park residents, visitors and business owners are expressing feelings of fear and frustration after a sixth attack in the area since June.
The latest assault was reported Thursday, August 28 around 11:30 p.m. near Lincoln Avenue and Idaho Street. Police say the woman was knocked to the ground and punched in the face.
Reynita Banaban lives just feet from where that latest attack was reported. She says her apartment manager now makes it mandatory for tenants to close the gate.
“Our manager wants us to close it every night now because we're all women here, and it's a scary feeling you know,” she told NBC 7.
Banaban says bargoers often park in her area, which is just a few blocks away from the popular University Avenue bar scene. She warns some of them about the attacks.
“A lot of them park over here and they run. They're not as safe as they used to feel like you know,” she said. “I don’t even want to come out no more after 8 p.m.”
Since the violence started, businesses have stepped up like Bar Pink. Staff members are offering to walk late-night customers to their cars. Other bars like True North and West Coast Tavern say they escort their female employees to their vehicles after work.
