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Police say they have leads in their search for a man who broke into a vehicle where two Dutch tourists were sleeping, sexually assaulted the woman and robbed them at knifepoint.
The man, aged 25, and woman, 22, were staying at a camping ground in Tuatapere, west of Invercargill, Detective Sergeant Dave Nelson said.
About 6.40am yesterday the man entered the vehicle and threatened the couple with a knife.
He sexually assaulted the woman, then demanded money.
The intruder was disguised, so a detailed description was not available, Mr Nelson said.
Police believed a second person stood outside the vehicle as the attack took place.
They were checking whether a burglary at a nearby property about the same time was related.
"We are in the early stages of this investigation and are following a number of leads," Mr Nelson said.
About 20 police staff were working on the case.
The tourists were being looked after by Victim Support and Invercargill police.
The incident echoed a 2006 crime in which a honeymooning Dutch couple were subjected to a sadistic attack while staying in a campervan in the Bay of Islands.
Keith McEwen and Christopher Manuel knocked on their door, wearing reflective vests in an attempt to look like policemen.
McEwen produced a shotgun, held it under the man's chin and demanded money.
The couple were handcuffed and gagged and the woman was raped inside the campervan while Manuel stood guard over the man outside.
More than $900 was taken from the couple's bank account using their bank card and the PIN number they had been forced to reveal.
Six hours after the attack began, the couple were dropped in a field and were able to raise the alarm.
McEwen received a sentence of preventive detention and Manuel was jailed for nine years.
- NZPA
