"Brighton Tickler" Strikes Again

The masked man known as the Brighton Tickler has struck again, breaking into three homes near the Boston College campus early Tuesday morning and tickling the feet of at least one sleeping resident before escaping yet again.

“My roommate was asleep and he felt something tickling his foot, he thought it was the cat, and then he woke up and there was a man crouching by his bed,” David Masters told WHDH in Boston. 

More: See Patch's Earlier Coverage of the Brighton Tickler

Police say reports of the Brighton Tickler date back at least two years, and follow a similar pattern: a white male wearing a mask breaks into area homes and tickles the feet of sleeping residents, dashing away as his victims wake up and before they can react.

There have been at least 10 incidents similar to the three on Tuesday, Boston.com reported in May.

“This is no myth,” Sergeant Michael O’Hara, a community service officer for the Boston Police district that covers Allston and Brighton, told Boston.com. “It’s happening.”

Tuesday's incidents occurred between 3:50 a.m. and 5:20 a.m., all within a quarter mile area of each other, according to CBS Boston. The station reported that the alleged perp was wearing light-colored clothing and a black mask, and bolted just after the victim awoke and kicked him.

Police said residents of the three homes the tickler entered Tuesday left their doors unlocked.

The tickler is just the latest bizarre bandit in the area around Boston College. A strange "tree-killing ninja" has been attacking trees and shrubs in the area in recent weeks, according to authorities, hacking away at saplings with a long-bladed sword.

Authorities encouraged anyone encountering the masked man to contact the Boston Police Department.