Dunedin women are being warned to ensure their personal safety at all times on nights out, after two separate sex attacks in the city during the weekend.
The warning from police comes after one young woman was forced into an inner-city alleyway and sexually violated early on Saturday, while a second young woman was sexually violated in her home early yesterday after befriending a man on the street.
Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken said both unrelated incidents were serious attacks and police urged both offenders to come forward and "give us their versions of the story".
In the first incident, the victim, a woman aged about 20, was forced into Blacket Lane, between Moray Pl and George St, and attacked shortly before 4.45am, after leaving an inner-city bar with a man she had met earlier that night, Snr Sgt Aitken said.
The victim told police she was walking down George St with the man when he forced her into the lane.
He was last seen running along George St and turning west into St Andrew St.
Police had spoken to one person who witnessed "at least part" of the attack, Snr Sgt Aitken said.
The offender was described as a male Caucasian, about 25 years old and 180cm tall, of skinny, muscular build, with long straight brown hair.
He was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt at the time of the attack.
The second incident occurred about 5.30am yesterday, after the victim, a woman also aged about 20, was approached by a male in Princes St while walking home from an inner-city bar with another woman.
The man "befriended" the pair and walked with them to a South Rd address, went inside with them but then attacked the victim, sexually violating her, Snr Sgt Aitken said.
The offender, described as a male Caucasian in his early 20s, was wearing a light brown top and dark trousers, and had brown hair down to his collar.
He was last seen walking south down South Rd, police said.
The two incidents were not believed to be linked, but Dunedin women needed to take care, Snr Sgt Aitken warned.
"All we can do is warn people, and advise people, to look after their personal safety.
"To be aware of what they are drinking, or how much they are drinking, and be able to look after themselves . . .
"Be aware of where you are and what you are doing at all times."
