Night Stalker may have struck again

A serial sex attacker and burglar dubbed the Night Stalker is feared to have struck again early today.

Detectives are investigating a burglary at the home of a woman in south London which they say bears the hallmarks of Britain's most prolific serial sex attacker.

The intruder preys on elderly women in their homes, sexually assaulting and sometimes raping his victims.

In the latest attack he broke into the home of an 82-yearold woman living alone and stole cash and valuables. He is not believed to have assaulted the victim, who was unharmed.

So far, the Night Stalker has committed around 94 offences in London and the Home Counties over the last 12 years. Today's incident would be his 95th attack.

Scotland Yard said the burglary in Sanderstead, near Croydon, has "similarities" to previous offences committed by the rapist.

A Met spokesman said: "Detectives are appealing for witnesses to a burglary that occurred in Sanderstead during the early hours of this morning.

"A number of items are believed to have been stolen from the victim's home in Westfield Avenue. The burglary is being investigated by detectives from the Operation Minstead team because there are some similarities with other incidents."

The huge police hunt, codenamed Minstead, was launched to catch the offender. In December, police warned that he could strike again at Christmas because in recent years he has committed offences over the festive period.

One theory is that he has time off work over Christmas which gives him more opportunity for attacks. There were three recent attacks in September, October and November.

Detectives have used groundbreaking DNA techniques to establish that the man's origins lie in the Caribbean.