(CENTERVILLE) Hundreds of residents packed the Leon County courthouse Monday night, asking questions and hoping for answers about a serial rapist targeting elderly women in Central Texas.

The serial rapist who has been terrorizing elderly women in Central Texas has now officially been linked to an attack in Falls County.

The Falls County Sheriff’s Office received notification Monday that DNA evidence gathered from the home of an elderly woman who was sexually assaulted earlier this month matches DNA from similar attacks in Leon and Bell Counties as well as in Lavaca County.

Two of the attacks happened in Bell County, three occurred in Leon County, 2 in Lavaca County, as well as the Falls County attack.

At the meeting held last night in Centerville, authorities from those counties turned to the community for help.

Leon County Sheriff Jerry Wakefield said "We`re doing the best we can to catch this guy, but we need your help, you are in the public, you know what goes on around your houses."

Area residents are urged to be especially observant and take precautions to secure their homes. Residents should consider leaving additional lighting on at night and make certain that their homes, garages and vehicles are securely locked.

Along with the Texas Rangers, the U.S. Marshals and the FBI could be called in to help in the investigation.

Here are the facts investigators know:

--The suspect has attacked women in Falls, Leon, Lavaca, and Bell Counties.
--Out of eight total attacks, five have occurred along Highway 53 and Highway 7.
--All victims have been elderly women living along.
--The attacks occur in the late evening or very early morning.
--Brick faced homes have been targets.

The following are suggestions of What to do to stay safe:

--Close and lock your windows at night.
--Keep exterior lights on and night lights on inside your house.
--Keep a cell phone close by in the event your house phone is disabled.
--Obtain a personal noise device such as a whistle, life alert, horn, etc.
--Know your neighbors and check on each other.