KEY POINTS:
Police say Hamilton's serial rapist is responsible for a burglary on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Detectives investigating a series of rapes of young women in Hamilton yesterday said they had established links between the rapist and other offending, but would not say how it was linked.
The burglary was committed in August last year at a holiday property north of Thames on the Thames Coast Rd.
Police believe other people were either involved or aware of the crime because of the number of items taken.
The items stolen suggested the person or persons responsible wanted to set up house or provide materials for others to live, as opposed to making money, police said.
The items included a Barbie sleeping bag, children's books (including C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia), toy walkie talkies, kitchen utensils, appliances, linen and camp stretchers. Two fishing rods and reels were also taken.
Police appealed to anyone with information - particularly those who might know where the stolen property went after the burglary, or who might have received the property - to contact the investigation team.
The rapist has attacked three women in Hamilton since April, and police fear he could strike again.
The hunt for the man has generated more than 800 suspects.
Police said the rapist - described as a European aged 18 to 40 - may be showing signs of nervousness at media attention and public interest. The man was believed to have been driving a silver-coloured car when he picked up hisvictims, all of whom were walking alone in the city centre.
The three known rapes occurred on April 1, May 20 and July 1.
Another report was received of an attempt by a man to lure a woman into his vehicle on the evening of April 1, before the first known rape.
Twenty-five police officers areworking on the case, code-named Operation Phil.
Police have set up a free phone number for anyone with information.
Call 0800 TO CATCH or 0800 86 22 82.
-additional reporting NZPA
