News / Local
Serial rapist on the run
12 Feb 2016 at 07:32hrs | Views
POLICE have warned Bulawayo residents that there is a suspected serial rapist on the loose following attacks on two women within three days. The suspected rapist is said to have pounced on his first victim on Saturday before striking again on Monday.
He is said to have selected his targets from couples who were fondling each other at Centenary Park, before pouncing on the women once they were alone while claiming that he was a municipal police officer.
The suspected rapist is said to monitor couples in the park until the time they separate before approaching the female and threatening to arrest her for indecent exposure.
In fear, his victims are alleged to have complied with his orders.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Province, Inspector Precious Simango, said the suspected rapist poses as a city council security officer before attacking his victims.
It is not clear how he attacked his victim on Saturday but on Monday he allegedly threatened to arrest his victim for indecent exposure.
"He's unknown and introduced himself as Bulawayo City Council police officer before raping and robbing his victims. He followed his victim from Centenary Park, boarded with her a kombi before threatening to arrest her for indecent exposure," said Insp Simango.
"This led to him disembarking from the kombi with his victim and they went back to Centenary Park where he raped her once and robbed her of her cell phone and tablet."
Insp Simango urged members of the public to demand official identification from those wanting to arrest them.
"We appeal to members of the public to ask for identification from those purporting to be police officers. They should be shown positive identification before being arrested," said Insp Simango.
She urged couples to desist from meeting at secluded places.
"They prey on those meeting in secluded places. Couples risk being robbed and raped if they meet in such places. They will rather lose money securing a safe place rather than going to secluded places where they get raped and robbed," she said.
He is said to have selected his targets from couples who were fondling each other at Centenary Park, before pouncing on the women once they were alone while claiming that he was a municipal police officer.
The suspected rapist is said to monitor couples in the park until the time they separate before approaching the female and threatening to arrest her for indecent exposure.
In fear, his victims are alleged to have complied with his orders.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Province, Inspector Precious Simango, said the suspected rapist poses as a city council security officer before attacking his victims.
It is not clear how he attacked his victim on Saturday but on Monday he allegedly threatened to arrest his victim for indecent exposure.
"This led to him disembarking from the kombi with his victim and they went back to Centenary Park where he raped her once and robbed her of her cell phone and tablet."
Insp Simango urged members of the public to demand official identification from those wanting to arrest them.
"We appeal to members of the public to ask for identification from those purporting to be police officers. They should be shown positive identification before being arrested," said Insp Simango.
She urged couples to desist from meeting at secluded places.
"They prey on those meeting in secluded places. Couples risk being robbed and raped if they meet in such places. They will rather lose money securing a safe place rather than going to secluded places where they get raped and robbed," she said.
Source - chronicle
