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A serial sex attacker terrorising women in daylight on the streets of Timaru has eluded police and left many in the town on edge.
Police say the series of five brazen attacks is virtually unheard of in the South Canterbury town of 27,000 people.
They believe the man, thought to be in his late teens or early 20s, will continue his attacks until he is caught and that the assaults may become more violent.
In each case the man has run up behind his victims, indecently assaulted them, and then escaped into hiding.
The brief attacks occurred mostly in the mornings and within a 2km radius.
The descriptions and method of operation have left police in no doubt it is the same man, said Detective Kevin Byrnes.
In the latest incident, on Monday, a 19-year-old woman was grabbed around the throat before being indecently assaulted. A courier driver chased the man until he got away down an alleyway.
Mr Byrnes said the first victims did not go to the police and those attacks had only recently come to light. The public had rallied behind police to catch the man, he said.
Timaru's Safer Community Council has heard reports of women changing their walking and exercise habits because of the sex attacks.
"It's always a concern when someone's behaviour means it limits someone else's," said co-ordinator Jacqui Robinson.
Normally such incidents were rare, so a series of attacks by a man still at large was especially unnerving.
"Police have a very good clearance rate and often the women get a good look at the person, but this time he has been coming up from behind them."
Mr Byrnes said women should not be afraid to walk the streets in daylight.
"If they want to go walking, it's all well and good. As long as they are mindful of what has been happening, and if they are not walking with a dog or friend, at least carry a cellphone."
He was confident the man would be caught.
