A masked prowler has attacked a number of women in a terrifying spree in Sydney’s west – and police have warned he will strike again.
The man was caught on camera at around 4am on Wednesday robbing several properties in Northmead, north of Parramatta.
An hour later, the same man stole a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV while its owner was buying fuel at the Windsor Road service station in North Rocks.
He then used the car to attack three women, police say.
Officers say the man first attacked a 47-year-old woman from behind on nearby Mons Road at around 5.20am
She tripped while trying to escape and the attacker took her bag.
A 19-year-old woman called police at 5.40am after a figure, believed to be the same man, pulled a knife on her in Toongabbie.
He also stole her purse and drove away in the stolen truck, police say.
A masked prowler has attacked a number of women in a terrifying spree in Sydney’s west – and police have warned he will strike again.
The man was caught on camera at around 4am on Wednesday robbing several properties in Northmead, north of Parramatta.
At approximately 5.55am, a 27-year-old woman was attacked with a hammer in North Parramatta.
“The woman handed the man her purse and cell phone… and he left the scene driving the SUV,” police said.
The woman’s friends tracked her phone and found the man in a nearby house. He attacked one of the men with a hammer and escaped.
Riot police and sniffer dogs are now searching for the thug.
“I describe this as particularly cowardly, simply targeting women walking alone, in the early hours of the morning, from behind,” Superintendent Barry Vincent said.
Riot police and sniffer dogs are now searching for the thug.
“While we were unable to locate this offender this morning, we are concerned that the crime will continue.”
The chaos resulting from the police search caused Christ the King Primary School in North Rocks to be briefly locked down while officers searched nearby for the offender.
It is now feared the man may have been responsible for a series of robberies in the area two days earlier, raising fears he could strike again.
The man is described as being of medium build and in his 20s. He was last seen wearing all black, including a beanie, balaclava, gloves and a Nike hoodie.
Police say people should not approach him and instead call police if they see him.
