Multiple reports of a man caught spying in the residence halls’ women’s showers have the UW Police Department (UWPD) on the lookout for a peeping tom.

The most recently reported incident occurred Monday at about 1:45 a.m. in the sixth-floor shower room in McCarty Hall.

According to investigators, this is the third such incident that has been reported in the last several months. Similar incidents were reported Nov. 22 and again Nov. 28.

Investigators believe since the changing of the shower-room locks, the suspect has been entering by following behind and out of sight of people entering the bathrooms and hiding in bathroom stalls.

Police are encouraging people who use the showers to ensure that the door is completely closed behind them.

Officials reportedly have a vague description of the suspect. The suspect is believed to be a college-age Asian man who is heavyset and has black hair and a buzz cut, said UWPD Chief Ray Wittmier.

He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a green t-shirt and blue jeans. It is not known whether the suspect is a UW student, dorm resident or neither.

Peeping toms like this usually limit their inappropriate behavior to peeping and don’t take it any further, said Wittmier.

“These are typically timid people,” he said. “He hasn’t tried to touch anybody, and as soon as he’s been spotted, he hightails it out of there.”

Police believe that there could be future spying incidents and are urging students to be on alert.

“We’ve had three incidents actually reported,” said Wittmier. “If other incidents have happened to you, report them — sometimes we can find a pattern.”

Wittmier said students can be most helpful to the police by reporting any information right away.

This applies to victims of similar incidents or people who may know the suspect or information about him.

“If someone out there knows the suspect, we’d love to have a tip that way,” Wittmier said. “Say, if your roommate matches that description and was gone at 1 a.m. on Monday night and didn’t come back until 2 (a.m.), give us a call.”

Reach reporter Siv Prince at news@thedaily.washington.edu.