An Augusta man is behind bars accused in a sexual crime spree. NBC Augusta was the only station there as investigators made the arrest.

Investigators say they had to act fast before a rapist and Peeping Tom acted again. Jared Baxter is in jail accused of assaulting women at two west Augusta apartment complexes, including the one where he lived.

Richmond County investigators say they knew they had to act quickly. Seventeen deputies with violent crimes, the gang task force, crime suppression, and road patrol help set up ten surveillance cameras at two apartment complexes to catch their man before he struck again.

"They won't have to worry about this guy anymore. He's going to be tucked away for a very long time," said Lt. Scott Peebles, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

It's a promise investigators say they can keep. After three separate apartment break-ins and one rape, deputies worked quickly to make an arrest.

"We knew we had a pattern. We knew we had someone committing these acts. It was the same individual," said Lt. Peebles.

Investigators say Baxter's crime spree began last month. They say he broke in on a woman at Iron Horse Apartments on Stevens Creek Road. That woman managed to get away, but officers say Baxter stole her flat screen TV.

Just a few days later, another victim at the same complex was taking out her garbage when Baxter forced himself into her apartment and raped her. Reports show the attacker made his victim take a shower and clean off her back.

And then on Monday of this week, investigators say Baxter struck again at Ridgecrest Apartments, the complex where he lives. The victim managed to fight off her attacker.

Investigators say Baxter peered through the window, closely watching his unsuspecting victims. But Thursday morning, deputies say they caught him in the act.

On hidden surveillance cameras, investigators say they saw Baxter look into the window of a young woman's apartment at Iron Horse. But when he saw a deputy, he took off. Officers followed Baxter into North Augusta where public safety stopped and arrested him.

Investigators say they found evidence in Baxter's car and apartment that links him to this crime spree.

Baxter does have a criminal history. Recently, he was arrested for criminal domestic violence in Charleston. He's an ex-marine.

Investigators say he was on his way back to Charleston when he was stopped Thursday morning.

Statistically, investigators say there is one peeping tom in every neighborhood.

They warn people should be on the look out for anyone suspicious. They say you should also look for cigarette butts and tissues near windows.