Iowa City Police are ramping up efforts to catch a predator - or small group of suspects - who have been attacking young women in downtown neighborhoods for months.

More than 35 reported incidents over the past 18 months have similarities, and several may have been committed by the same person, police told The Gazette.

The suspect in many of assaults has a similar description: a white, apparently college-aged male suspect of average height and weight, with dark hair and eyes who sneaks up on his victims and flees when they resist.

Police believe the predator became active last fall, targeting college-aged females walking alone in poorly lit residential areas that are well-traveled during the day, but not when the attacks occur. Often, victims are distracted, fumbling with keys or talking on cell phones. The suspect often confronts his victim for less than a minute before fleeing, police said.

Victims are nearly always wearing a skirt or dress at the time of the attack, police said.

While police had previously said they believed the assaults could be the result of one predator, there have been some variances in suspect descriptions, indicating there may be more than one suspect involved in the assaults, police said.