The latest attack occurred about 8 a.m. Tuesday, not far from an assault that was reported earlier.

A 72-year-old woman told police an unknown man entered her apartment, pulled a knife and began to sexually assault her.

Police said the woman struggled with the assailant who then ran from the apartment.

Police have classified the case as a first-degree burglary and fourth-degree sexual assault.

Earlier this week, an 85-year-old Kaimuki woman told police that a stranger held her at knife point early Saturday morning after breaking into her apartment. The woman told police she was sleeping at about 3 a.m. when a stranger got into her apartment on Old Wai'alae Road, pulled a knife on her and sexually assaulted her.

Police have no arrests in either case.

Detective Letha DeCaires of the Honolulu Police Department's CrimeStoppers program said all Honolulu residents — young or old — can take steps to help guard against home break-ins that could lead to sexual assaults or other kinds of crimes.

"First of all, make sure you have good, sturdy doors, that all of the locks are in working order and that the doors are locked," DeCaires said.

"Second, if you have louvers next to your front door, as many of us in Hawai'i do, make sure the individual glass panels cannot be removed — permanently glue them in place or double-clip them," DeCaires said. "Try to make sure they can't be removed except by breaking them. Breaking the panels creates noise, and noise discourages would-be burglars."

A "full spectrum" of other home security options is available, from installing motion sensing lights outside your home to contracting with a private alarm company that will monitor an electronic warning system 24 hours a day to guard against break-ins, DeCaires said.

"But if you do find yourself being sexually assaulted, there are several important things to remember," DeCaires said.

"The first is to try to do whatever it takes to survive. Second, try to keep your wits about you and look for avenues of escape."

Victims should also try to remember as much as they can about the attacker and should report the attack immediately, DeCaires said.