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More shocking details have been revealed in the hunt for a rapist who struck in South Auckland.
Officers investigating what they say is a despicable attack in Papakura have revealed the man who raped the 41-year-old woman asked for her by name when she opened the door.
He was posing as a police officer working on routine inquiries.
The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, said the man had asked the woman to open the door and once inside had produced a "dark handgun" and threatened her with it.
The man then stripped the woman naked and subjected her to a prolonged and "despicable" sexual attack.
Locals in the area believe the attack was meticulously planned, with suggestions that the rapist may have been keeping watch on the property, waiting for the best time to strike. Police are now warning people to ask police officers to produce identification before letting them into their homes.
Forensic psychologist Dr Ian Lambie of Auckland University says the criminal is clearly a desperate man.
He says he certainly appears to like taking risks, as it is a very public crime.
A team of 30 are working on the case and are now trying to find out exactly how he knew his victim's identity.
It has fuelled speculation he had been stalking the woman for some time prior to Thursday's attack.
- NEWSTALK ZB