Durie Hill residents taking precautions as police hunt sex attackerby Lin Fergusonlin.ferguson@wangnauichronicle.co.nz Durie Hill residents have become acutely aware over the past week of who is walking along their streets in the hill-top suburb after the attack and rape of a young woman last Sunday.
One woman told the Chronicle that she wouldn't let her daughters walk alone in the street anymore.
"It's always been really safe up here," she said. "This has been very frightening for everyone, especially as they haven't found the man yet. It's a terrible worry for all of us who have young daughters. I hope they find him soon." An elderly woman who has lived in Portal Street for more than 30 years said she didn't even know there was a track behind the Durie Hill school into the gully until after last Sunday's attack.
"A friend and I went had a look this week. I think it goes down to Durie Vale. We've all got the gully behind us in Portal Street you see."
She wouldn't be leaving her front door open anymore, she said.
"I'm keeping it locked from now on because I suppose you just never know. It's really upset me this attack. It's upset all my neighbours too."
Another resident said since the attack he had found himself watching every person walking along the street.
"It's not something I do really but I'm doing it now. I hope they find this man and the sooner the better. It's very upsetting for everyone who lives up here."
A young teenage girl walking her puppy said her mother had got really nervous since the attack.
"She's really worried about us all the time now and everyone round us is talking about it. It's quite scary really."
Wanganui police investigating the attack on the 22-year-old woman were still making door-to-door inquiries.
Detective Craig Gorringe said there were still more potential witnesses to be interviewed as well.
"We're hoping to have a lot more information in over the next few days."
The woman, who suffered extensive superficial injuries over her body, was walking along Portal St, Durie Hill between 9am and 10am on Sunday morning, January 16.
She took a shortcut to a path behind Durie Hill School, then across a gully to houses on the other side.
The victim described her attacker as a causcasian with a receding hairline and a pot belly.
Fear stalks suburb after rape of woman
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