Two recent attacks downtown have some women on edge in Madison. Today, Madison police released the sketch of the man believed to have attacked a 21 year old woman walking home last Saturday morning on the 100 block of East Johnson Street.

Police say sexual assault was likely the motive behind the vicious attack, that left the victim with several lacerations to the back of the head.

This comes just a month after another 21 year old woman behind the 1800 block of Monroe Street was attacked and believed to have been sexually assaulted by an armed suspect.

Even though Madison police say the two incidents are not connected, it has caught the attention of the local rape crisis center in Madison.

“It does create a heightened concern,it makes us more aware of our vulnerability,”said executive director of the Rape Crisis Center, Kelly Anderson.
Posted---Nov 30,2012

Anderson says even though sexual assault is a threat at any age, women ages 16 to 24 are more vulnerable to sexual assaults. The two incidents that took place just a few blocks away from the U-W campus, have U-W police on high alert.

“That could have been me,”said U-W Madison student, Aubrey Johnson. Johnson says she and her roommates, practice safety measures as way to look out for each other.

The rape crisis center also recommends taking self defense classes as well as being aware of surroundings.

The center encourages people to walk in groups whenever it's possible, not to wear ear buds or text while walking on the street.