East Lansing police might be jumping the gun by airing their gut reactions before concrete evidence is on hand. The department hopes to link the assault of an MSU student in her home earlier this month with similar attacks that have occurred during the past three years.

It seems almost irresponsible to leave residents to wonder if there is a serial intruder loose in the streets of East Lansing. But what has become an annual event cannot be ignored.

Police are right - even if they cannot link the annual assaults - there is a problem in the city that has become horrifically too common.

There is an area of the city that is vulnerable to sexual predators targeting women.

It is imperative actions be taken to make that area less assailable. Whether it is done with new street lights, landlords installing better locks on doors and windows, neighborhood watches, increased police patrols or a combination of multiple security measures, safety needs to be a top priority for East Lansing neighborhoods.

Earlier this month, a communication senior awoke to find an intruder in her home on the 1600 block of Linden Street. He was armed with a knife and covered her mouth with his hand. She managed to scream and scare the man away.

Police say that the Jan. 10 attack shared many traits with two other attacks - one in May 2002 on the 100 block of Kedzie Street and the another in May 2000 on the 400 block of Ann Street. In all three cases, the man was armed with a knife and described as a white male in his mid-20s, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8, with a thin build and shaggy blond or light brown hair. Several victims said the attacker had an unusually deep voice for his size.

East Lansing police Deputy Tom Wibert said it is likely the attacker is familiar with the area because in each case all-female homes have been broken into.

While it is disturbing sexual assaults have become an almost yearly occurrence inside a one-mile radius of the city, residents shouldn't be overly fearful for their safety. Residents should continue to watch out for one another and make sure homes have adequate locks that are being used.

MSU has made many strides in aiding the safety of its students through walk and ride programs, extra lighting and emergency green-light phones. And the university's philosophy could easily be taken across Grand River Avenue.

Landlords should make sure their properties have adequate locks. City leaders should ensure streets are well-lit and pressure landlords to keep their properties safe. Police have a responsibility to patrol neighborhoods that need extra attention.

It is up to the community to ensure that sexual predators have no place to strike.