Published On:Monday, August 10, 2009

By ALISON LOWE

Tribune Staff Reporter

alowe@tribunemedia.net

A SUSPECTED serial rapist who has struck more than five times within a month in Eastern New Providence has police puzzled, The Tribune has learned.

The man, who has been consistently described by his female victims, has caused police at the Elizabeth Estates station to implement two new patrols in the early morning hours and see that bushes in the area are cleared to remove opportunities for him to hide himself or evidence from the scene of his crimes.

He targets homes where women are living alone or where the man of the household is not present at the time, The Tribune was told.

According to a concerned police source, senior officers are reluctant to inform the public of the attacks - which have been taking place primarily between 3am and 6am - so as not to cause a panic.

But women living in the area have told The Tribune they think it is "ridiculous" that they have not been informed of the new threat in their community.

A police source said the perpetrator talks to his victims, and after he has committed his crime, takes any items of clothing they were wearing and the bed sheets and makes them wash themselves, in an apparent effort to clear up any evidence that might link him to the crime.

In one case, The Tribune was told he was about to rape a 15-year-old girl but her mother begged him not to and he forced himself on her instead.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that another mother whose story The Tribune reported on in early July is also believed to be one of the man's intended victims.

The woman, who lives in the Eastern Road area, awoke to see a man standing over her in her bedroom. The man's actions led her to believe she was about to be raped, and she offered to take him to the ATM to get money instead.

In this instance he then took her and her children in the car in the early hours of the morning to withdraw the cash. Forcing her to drive back with him in the car towards the house he abandoned the family and fled the scene.

Since that time numerous other women have not been so fortunate, The Tribune was told.

Superintendent Elsworth Moss, officer in charge of the Central Detective Unit, said officers are "still doing some investigations" into the matter.

However, he declined to offer further details, stating that he was out of office and did not have access to the information.

Calls to other senior officers went unanswered yesterday afternoon.