KEY POINTS:
A serial rapist is operating in Hamilton and the consistent timing of his attacks has police fearing he could be about to strike again.
Hamilton CIB head Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Page issued an identikit picture of the man said to have raped three women in the city.
Detectives have linked the rapes to the same offender but will not say how.
Common factors include the women being offered rides or "assistance" from the man in the central business area before being taken to different locations where they were attacked.
Mr Page said the attacks, which all occurred at night during weekends, were spaced six weeks apart in April, May and July.
"There is a consistency to the dates, about the general gap between them, and our confirmation this week of the same offender brings us to the point where we're starting to approach the same time gap between offences two and three.
"There's really only two gaps and they are reasonably consistent so if we're talking at the beginning of April and the middle of May, that will be six weeks. And then the middle of May to the end of July."
Mr Page said three offences were not enough to determine a pattern, but the time gaps suggested the man may be about to reoffend because the most recent attack occurred four weeks ago.
"If you could say three offences is a pattern then ... the next couple of weeks," he said of the next potential offence.
"One thing the public should not be blind to is the fact it and people should know he could attack again at any time.
Mr Page said each attack originated from women being picked up in the central city.
"Once alone, and away from the public eye, these sexual attacks have then been committed.
"They are occurring in public places.
"The most recent victim was picked up in the CBD and the offence was committed in the CBD."
The women from the earlier attacks were taken to a remote area near Hamilton Airport.
"It's only recently, as in this week, that we've been able to positively link all three."
Mr Page said it was possible the rapist had travelled from out of town.
"We're keeping a pretty open mind as to where he is from."
Police had only a general description of the man's car, which was light-coloured. Mr Page refused to say if he used weapons. The man's victims did not need hospital treatment.
Six police officers with criminal profiling specialists and analysts were working on the case. but more staff were coming from Auckland and Wellington to assist. Police had increased their patrols in the city because of the attacks. Mr Page said women could minimise the risk of becoming victims.
"Be sure about how you're going to get home."
The suspected serial rapist is described as a male European aged between 18 and 30 with fair hair.
