May 28, 2014 07:10 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

A man has been breaking into the off-campus homes of Boston College students to tickle them, Campus Reform reported.

The Boston Police Department has confirmed on Wednesday that the man who has been sporadically invading homes of students who lived near the institution over the last two years was sighted at least 10 times.  Three students reported seeing him on the night of April 7, Campus Reform reported.

Teddy Raddell, a third-year student at Boston College, told Boston.com he was jolted awake at 5 a.m. on a Sunday in October by the sound of someone running down the stairs of the house he shares with several fellow students.

"I thought my roommate had fallen down the steps," Raddell said, "but then he started yelling. I got up and he said that he had woken up to someone touching his feet."

The tickler is reportedly a 5-foot, 8-inch tall black male in dark clothing and a hoodie. He usually operates by breaking into students' off-campus homes and tickling their feet or watching them sleep. Officials said he is able to gain access to students' homes because they often leave their doors unlocked.

"This is no myth," Sergeant Michael O'Hara, community service officer for the Boston Police district which covers the Allston and Brighton neighborhoods near the university, told Boston.com. "It's happening."

 "You don't know what this guy is going to do or if he has a weapon. You need to lock your doors. It's not as safe as you think," O'Hara added.

Police officials said that the Tickler has apparently never stolen anything despite having access to student's valuables. Some students have said that he will watch them through their windows as he commits a sexual act.

"The guy didn't take anything and there were laptops and wallets out in the main room," Raddell said.

O'Hara said students need to report when they encounter the tickler who operates in an otherwise low-crime area.

See Now: Covert Team Inside Newsweek Revealed as Key Players in False Human Trafficking Lawsuit