Police warned visitors to secluded areas of the Columbia Gorge to be alert after a young couple was robbed and the woman sexually assaulted during an armed robbery in the Gorge late Friday night.

Hood River County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene just off of I-84 in Cascade Locks around 11:30 p.m.

Officers said the couple was sitting in their car when they were approached by a man wearing a ski mask and carrying a handgun.

The couple told police the man took their credit cards, cell phones and laptop computer and that the female was sexually assaulted during the incident.

Officers have responded to several similar robbery calls in the area in the last year in which the suspect’s description was the same. There have been eight reported robberies since November.

Chris Stinebaugh is a cook at the Charburger in Hood River. He was at work one night just before Christmas when an armed man robbed the restaurant. Authorities believe it was the same man.

"We're keeping our eyes open, anything suspicious, even you can observe things in the daytime that might be pieces of the puzzle," Kevin Price of the Oregon Parks department said.

In the meantime, police are asking motorists to refrain from pulling over or sitting in their vehicles in the area.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, about 5’9” and 160 to 190 pounds. He was wearing all black clothing and a black face mask and was driving a dark colored SUV or pickup with a canopy.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact their local police department.