17/06/2009
Police Fear 'Night Stalker' Has Struck Again
Police investigating several burglaries at properties over the past fortnight fear they may have been carried out by a serial rapist who preys on the elderly.
Specialist officers have been drafted in to investigate the nine burglaries at properties in south London over concerns a serial rapist dubbed the "night stalker" is behind the crimes.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman confirmed a number of incidents in the last month had been referred to Operation Minstead, the unit set to capture the suspect.
However, only one of these has been so far linked with the attacker, after DNA was recovered.
Two of the recent break-ins happened a short distance from each other in Shirley, near Croydon, and the victims were aged between 91 and 93.
The man, described as a light-skinned black man, is said to be responsible for over 100 offences dating back to 1990, and some of his victims - both men and women - have been raped and sexually assaulted.
He often wears a mask, and wakes his victim by shining a torch in their faces.
According to police, forensic investigations have shown he originates from the Windward Islands in the Caribbean.
The culprit is also thought to be employed, aged between 35 and 45, who masks his crime behind the veneer of a respectable life.
He may have used a motorbike, have links to Brighton, and that his mother died in 2000.
The man has raped four victims - one of whom suffered horrific injuries and almost died in surgery.
The Met spokeswoman said: "A number of incidents in the last month have been referred to Operation Minstead.
"Only one incident so far has been confirmed as an Operation Minstead investigation, the others may still turn out to be nothing to do with Operation Minstead."
(JM/BMcC)
Specialist officers have been drafted in to investigate the nine burglaries at properties in south London over concerns a serial rapist dubbed the "night stalker" is behind the crimes.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman confirmed a number of incidents in the last month had been referred to Operation Minstead, the unit set to capture the suspect.
However, only one of these has been so far linked with the attacker, after DNA was recovered.
Two of the recent break-ins happened a short distance from each other in Shirley, near Croydon, and the victims were aged between 91 and 93.
The man, described as a light-skinned black man, is said to be responsible for over 100 offences dating back to 1990, and some of his victims - both men and women - have been raped and sexually assaulted.
He often wears a mask, and wakes his victim by shining a torch in their faces.
According to police, forensic investigations have shown he originates from the Windward Islands in the Caribbean.
The culprit is also thought to be employed, aged between 35 and 45, who masks his crime behind the veneer of a respectable life.
He may have used a motorbike, have links to Brighton, and that his mother died in 2000.
The man has raped four victims - one of whom suffered horrific injuries and almost died in surgery.
The Met spokeswoman said: "A number of incidents in the last month have been referred to Operation Minstead.
"Only one incident so far has been confirmed as an Operation Minstead investigation, the others may still turn out to be nothing to do with Operation Minstead."
(JM/BMcC)
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Police searching for the country's most prolific burglar and sex offender have made a fresh appeal for information. Operation Minstead - the operation to catch the rapist, who has preyed on elderly victims in south east London since 1990 - has been ongoing since 1998, after forensic evidence was found linking two rape offences.
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