Update: A new photo of Funk (attached to this story) was released Nov. 10.

Mounties are asking for the public's help tracking down a man who is the prime suspect in sexual assaults in two B.C. communities.

Police say Shaun Richard Funk, 35, is wanted after "extensive investigations" into two sex attacks a month apart in Squamish and the Vancouver Island community of Ladysmith.

Funk is also facing charges of kidnapping, robbery and break and enter.

In the Squamish incident, on Aug. 28, a 39-year-old woman was held against her will and sexually assaulted. She was then taken to Burnaby and sexually assaulted again.

The Ladysmith incident occurred on Sept. 26, when a woman in her 50s was sexually assaulted by a man who broke into her home.

Funk is described as a white man with brown hair and brown eyes, about five-foot-eight to five-10, about 150 pounds with a slim build.

He has tribal-art tattoos on his upper right arm and a noticeable mole on the right side of his chin.

Police say Funk may also be a suspect in other crimes on Vancouver Island.

"We need the public's support to find this individual, who poses a high risk to public safety," said Vancouver Island RCMP Cpl. Darren Lagan.

"As a result of increased public pressure through the media, we are confident that we will apprehend Shaun Funk. As long as he remains at large, there remains a risk to public safety. If you have seen Shaun Richard Funk, call your local police immediately," Langan said on Nov. 10.

RCMP say Funk — who is originally from Manitoba and has also lived in Alberta — has a known crack cocaine habit. They say he has a habit of running up tabs at bars and restaurants then trying to take off without paying. He has no known vehicles or residence and is known to stay in campsites.

Anyone with information on Funk's whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.

E-mail: jruttle@theprovince.com