Nov 9, 2009 6:31 am US/Eastern
Police Hope Hotline Helps Catch Serial Rapist
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Baltimore police have set up a tip line for residents to call with information about suspects in a series of rapes that may be related.
CBS
Baltimore City Police are pulling out all the stops to catch a suspected serial rapist.
Andrea Fujii reports they've now launched a 24-hour hotline to drum up more tips in the case.
There are at least nine rape cases police are investigating, many of them violent and some that appear to be connected.
Police say the suspect has dragged several women to secluded areas and raped them. The victims, mostly in East Baltimore, were threatened with broken glass. There's been at least nine rapes since Oct. 20.
In several, but not all cases, the suspect found his female victims alone near bus stops late at night or early morning hours.
It's frightening news for people who live in the areas near the attacks.
"He has to be caught," said a resident.
That's why police have increased patrols along bus routes and even have undercover decoys working the case.
Now officers have set up a special rape hotline which they say will be staffed by detectives 24 hours a day.
"S
o we are really trying to make this case a priority. Anyone that has any information that they think is remotely helpful, we are strongly encouraging them to contact this tip line," said Baltimore City police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.
Detectives say they'll be working with MTA police to make sure the suspect's sketch is posted at buses and bus stops around the city.
The latest attack happened Wednesday on Brendan Avenue in Northeast Baltimore, not far from a bus stop. That victim was held at gunpoint.
Police say they've had some help from the public but need more.
"We put the sketch out on Facebook and Twitter. We've gotten some tremendous responses through social media, and we just want to continue hammering it out until we find this guy," said Guglielmi.
Police cannot say for certain whether all of the attacks have been committed by the same rape suspect.
The Rape Tip Hotline is 888-223-0033.
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