Austin police are urging caution after a man reportedly showed a sexually inappropriate cellphone video to a woman who’d helped him after he claimed his car broke down.

The woman reported a man came to her door on the 900 block of Fourth Avenue Northeast just before midnight on Sunday asking for jumper cables because his car had a dead battery, according to Capt. David McKichan.

He’d chosen to stop at her home because her porch light was on, but she didn’t have jumper cables so the man left.

But the man returned three more times.

The next time, he asked for a phone book, couldn’t find the number he was looking for and the woman gave him the number for a towing company. He left and later returned a third time to thank her.

A short while later, he returned to show her a video of what had happened to his car. He passed her his phone through the screen door, and the phone was playing a sexually explicit video — possibly of the suspect. The woman slammed the door, but gave the man his phone back.

The victim, a woman in her 50s, reported the incident to Austin police several hours later on Monday.

The suspect is described as a white male of medium build in his late 20s to early 30s with short dark hair. He was described as having no facial hair but being scruffy, possibly with teeth missing or decay on his lower jaw. He was wearing blue jeans, a gray jacket and a baseball cap.

Police contacted the towing company, but workers did not receive a similar call that night.

No similar instances have been reported, but McKichan urged people to be cautious if known, suspicious people approach them

“Don’t go to the door,” he said. “Call us; report it.”

Anyone with information should call the law enforcement center at 507-437-9400 or use the Tip411 app, which allows residents to submit anonymous tips.

A reminder to lock doors

McKichan also reminded residents to lock their vehicles, homes and storage buildings.

Burglaries and thefts are a continuing issue in Austin, Mower County and around the state, and McKichan said unlocked buildings and cars are at a higher risk.

Many burglars and thieves will rifle through unlocked cars and buildings, so securing property prevents incidents, protects property and saves work for law enforcement, McKichan noted.