ACU girls living in a house close to campus reported seeing an unknown man inside their house only days after another group of girls reported seeing another suspicious man peering in one of their windows.

The first incident happened Friday, Oct. 1 at 1:24 a.m.

“I was sitting in my room and I heard something outside,” said Sarah Beardsley, junior family studies major from Keller. “I thought it was one of the cats, because we have cats outside. Then I heard a cat screech and a banging against the window and a guy curse at a cat. That’s when I got freaked out and ran to wake up my roommate, and we called the cops.”

Tiffany Siegel, senior elementary education major from Austin, and her roommates had a even more concerning experience only two days later, on Oct. 3.

“We were just sitting on the couch talking, and I looked up and saw someone standing beside the shelf in the kitchen,” Siegel said. “I thought it was just Brooke [her roommate] and I didn’t really think anything of it. So I just sat there for a while, and they had been standing there for like a minute and a half, and I wondered why she wasn’t coming in and talking to us. I thought it was really weird. Then I looked a bit closer and I realized it wasn’t Brooke, it was a guy.”

Siegel said she called out to the person who, realizing he had been spotted, left through the back door.

“We didn’t scream until after he had gone,” Siegel said.

ACU Chief of Police Jimmy Ellison said in both cases the ACU Police responded quickly and checked the area but were unable to locate any suspicious individuals.

Ellison said prowler and window-peeper calls are an occasional problem the ACU Police has to respond to, although he has not seen a specific trend.

“There was not enough specific information on either incident to determine if they are, in fact, linked,” Ellison said. “Our officers, especially our late evening and midnight shift officers, try to be visible and present in alleyways and obscure locations because of the potential for things like that.”

Siegel said the experience has not made her feel less safe, but has made her think about some things that had not previously been at the front of her mind.

“A lot of people get caught up in the fact that this is Abilene, and this is a small town. They don’t really think that you need to be cautious about that kind of stuff,” Siegel said. “But it’s just a good habit to keep your doors locked, especially at night. Just little things can make a big difference.”

think anything of it. So I just sat there for a while, and they had been standing there for like a minute and a half, and I wondered why she wasn’t coming in and talking to us. I thought it was really weird. Then I looked a bit closer and I realized it wasn’t Brooke, it was a guy.”

Siegel said she called out to the person who, realizing he had been spotted, left through the back door.

“We didn’t scream until after he had gone,” Siegel said.

ACU Chief of Police Jimmy Ellison said in both cases the ACU Police responded quickly and checked the area but were unable to locate any suspicious individuals.

Ellison said prowler and window-peeper calls are an occasional problem the ACU Police has to respond to, although he has not seen a  trend.

“There was not enough specific information on either incident to determine if they are, in fact, linked,” Ellison said. “Our officers, especially our late evening and midnight shift officers, try to be visible and present in alleyways and obscure locations because of the potential for things like that.”

Siegel said the experience has not made her feel less safe, but has made her think about some things that had not previously been at the front of her mind.

“A lot of people get caught up in the fact that this is Abilene, and this is a small town. They don’t really think that you need to be cautious about that kind of stuff,” Siegel said. “But it’s just a good habit to keep your doors locked, especially at night. Just little things can make a big difference.”

Ellison said individuals who encounter  an intruder in their home should contact police and get away from the individual.

“Obviously you want to get away from the person as quickly as possible and lock yourself in a secure room, or if need be, leave the residence and call police as soon as possible.”

Ellison said the key to safety is to get away from the individual, get secure and get a good description of the suspect for police.