‘Peeping Tom’ in local neighborhoods worries residents, police

Someone has been peeping into windows and prowling in the Glen Lennox, Briarcliff and Ridgefield neighborhoods, according to a Chapel Hill police press release.

Following multiple reports, the police department is looking for a person complainants have described as a 20- to 40-year-old light-skinned male.

The release states that the man is possibly African American or Hispanic.

In a notice distributed to Glen Lennox residents, the apartment complex warned renters to be cautious and said that a white male was seen at the scene of one “peeping Tom” report.

“We actually have a special task force that’s working the area,” said Lt. Jason McIntyre of the Chapel Hill police.

McIntyre said the problem has persisted since the summer, but the department hopes the press releases will help residents to be aware and help officials catch the suspect.

The man is believed to be 5’8” to 5’10” tall and of a thin build, according to the police statement.

The suspect might drive a dark-colored sedan, the release states. The Glen Lennox flyer, distributed before the weekend, states that three Glen Lennox residents have recently reported hearing something around their apartments after dark.

According to the document, one of the residents lives on Maxwell Road, another on Lanark Road and the third on Hamilton Road.

According to the police report, the person suspected of peeping has been seen standing near the wood line by several callers.

Though she said she has had no problems, Kelly Murphy, a graduate student at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and a Glen Lennox resident, said this is not the first time the neighborhood has had safety issues.

“I’ve gotten flyers several times since I’ve lived here,” she said.

She added that since her shower has a translucent window in it, she takes the precaution of showering with the light off.

Based on the flyer, Glen Lennox management notified Chapel Hill police and met with a crime prevention officer.

The flyer also says that police have had reports of similar incidents on Ephesus Church Road, Oakwood Drive and Rogerson Drive.

“Our purpose in notifying everyone is not to make anyone uncomfortable, but to once again stress the importance of safety awareness in light of these incidents,” the flyer states.

Residents who have any information concerning these incidents are asked to contact the Chapel Hill Police Department at 968-2760 or call Crime Stoppers at 942-7515.

Police also ask that anyone who spots the man notes his dress, vehicle description and license plate number.

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