Two or more sexual predators may be operating in the Altona North-Newport area, police say, with 14 women assaulted since April 29.
Most of the women were indecently assaulted in the vicinity of Mason Street in Newport and Altona North between April 29 and August 16.
A Newport resident, who did not want to be named and whose home was doorknocked by police, said detectives told her the most recent victim at Newport had been raped.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Lee Thomson would not elaborate on the latest attack.
“The sexual crime squad is investigating the circumstances surrounding the sexual assault of a woman in Newport on Saturday morning [August 16],” Leading Senior Constable Thomson said.
“Detectives are following up a number of avenues of inquiry in relation to this incident, including whether or not this is linked to the recent reports of a series of indecent assaults nearby.
“As such, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Hobsons Bay’s Acting Inspector Andrew Crook wouldn’t say whether police were hunting more than one offender. “The ones on the bicycle, that’s been linked together. They believe it’s one offender, but at this stage, as to who that is, we don’t know,” he said.
“And the other ones, well, they’re ongoing investigations so we can’t really comment.”
Police said most of the attacks took place between 6am and 8am and 6pm and 8pm and were carried out by a Caucasian man riding a mountain bike and wearing a dark hoodie pulled over his face. Most of the women were wearing headphones while exercising.
The Newport resident said she didn’t believe the latest assault was linked to the man on
the bike. “I don’t know if it is the same person. If it is, he’s escalated quite a lot.”
The August 16 assault was at the corner of Hall and High streets between 10.30am and 11am.
The attack occurred amid intense police scrutiny in Newport. An information caravan was in Mason Street each day last week and
police were regularly patrolling the area. Almost 100 tip-offs were received.
Anyone with information should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
