Chris Page says the rapist may be nervous. Photo / Sarah Ivey
The hunt for Hamilton's serial rapist has thrown up more than 800 suspects and police are urging people to watch for any telltale signs pointing to the possible attacker.
The rapist has attacked three women in Hamilton since April and police fear he could strike again.
Inquiry head
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Page said the rapist may be showing signs of nervousness at media attention and public interest.
He may also be trying to get rid of the vehicle used in all three attacks.
The man, a European aged 18 to 40, was believed to have been driving a silver-coloured car when he picked up his victims, all of whom were walking alone in the city centre.
Mr Page said the more than 800 suspects were nominated by the public.
"That's a lot of names tossed up and we have just got to prioritise those and work our way through," Mr Page said yesterday. He said he was pleased women were heeding police advice about not walking alone or accepting lifts from strangers.
"We like to think we are pretty safe here in New Zealand, but people often make some poor judgments or decisions."
Police were still investigating a 19-year-old man picked up in a Hamilton bar at the weekend allegedly trying to sell a prescription medicine.
He has been remanded to a future date.
Mr Page said that although the man was not on the original list of nominated suspects, he would be looked at "just to be sure".
The three known rapes occurred on April 1, May 20 and July 1.
Mr Page said there was one other report of an attempt by a man to lure a woman into his vehicle on the even-ing of April 1, before the first known rape.
The inquiry team of 12 has been boosted to 25.
- NZPA
