SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (WLS) -- Police in northwest suburban Schaumburg and Elk Grove Village are searching for a man described as "dangerous" who is suspected of crimes including attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure.
Police say the man appears to target other men who are working in industrial areas like auto repair shops, and other businesses where doors and garages are left open but at least one incident happened in a residential images.
The most recent in the string of disturbing encounters happened in a Schaumburg subdivision, where neighbors said the man tried to enter several homes.
"Someone, like, knocking at the door, trying to grab the handle of the door, playing with it, seeing if it was loose or open," said Mark Wokurka.
Wokurka said the man tried to open his screen door before moving onto a neighbor's patio, yanking on that door, pulling down his pants and exposing himself to his neighbor who was home at the time.
Residents were shaken by the incidents.
"I was kind of shocked. I was really, really shocked because that sort of thing never happens here," said Ray Martin.
Police say there was a similar encounter in a nearby industrial park, where the suspect entered through the back door of a business, exposed himself to the male owner and fled after being threatened with a hammer.
Suburban authorities have known of the man since 2014. He is wanted by Elk Grove police for multiple incidents of indecent exposure and an attempted sex assault.
All the victims are men, police said.
"He needs help, obviously. He sounds like he's not normal. But they need to catch him and get the people thinking straight here, so they're safe again," Wokurka said.
Elk Grove Village surveillance video shows the suspect wearing a hoodie, but in the more recent Schaumburg incidents police said the suspect was shirtless and wearing camouflage shorts.