New footage has emerged showing the Sydney Prowler sneaking through a building during a terrifying crime spree.
The search continues for the man who robbed and assaulted multiple women in western Sydney over the course of several hours on Wednesday, with police fearing he could strike again.
New South Wales police have released new footage showing the man’s face during his crime spree, as he wanders through a building checking to see if any doors in a hallway are unlocked.
He opened a door, pretending to use his sleeve to make sure no fingerprints were left on the door handle.
He then left the building and ran across the street.
Several citizens called police about a man trespassing in the Northmead area.
The motive for the attacks has not yet been released, but police suspect the man specifically targeted isolated women.
The police have He urged all women travelling on foot to keep to the main roads and told anyone approached by him not to resist.
New CCTV footage has been released of the Sydney Prowler showing him without a mask for the first time
The footage shows the burglar sneaking through a hallway, checking to see if any doors are unlocked, before running out of one and into an adjacent street.
“Property can be replaced, your safety is paramount,” said Superintendent Barry Vincent.
The man was first captured on camera around 4am on Wednesday morning robbing a number of properties in Northmead, near Parramatta.
An hour later, at 5.10am, the same man hijacked a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV while its 37-year-old female owner went to get petrol at a petrol station on Windsor Road in nearby North Rocks.
He then used the car to attack three women, police said.
According to officers, the man is said to have attacked a 47-year-old woman from behind on nearby Mons Road at around 5:20 a.m.
She tripped as she tried to flee, after which the attacker took her handbag.
A 19-year-old woman called police at 5.40am after a suspect, believed to be the same man, pulled a knife on her on Junia Avenue in Toongabbie.
After a brief struggle, he also stole her purse and drove away in the stolen SUV, police said.
Police are hunting for the man after he was involved in a series of robberies and attacks in Northmead, north of Parramatta, from 4am on Wednesday
NSW Police Chief Barry Vincent urged women to remain vigilant and told anyone approached by the man to do as he said.
At around 5.55am, a 27-year-old woman was attacked with a hammer in North Parramatta.
“The woman gave her purse and cell phone to the man … and he left the scene of the crime in the SUV,” police said.
The woman’s family was able to track her phone and found the man at a nearby house. But before they could confront him, he smashed the windshield of their car with the hammer.
One of the women’s relatives, a 27-year-old man, was then attacked, but the burglar managed to escape.
The stolen SUV was found nearby and is now undergoing forensic examination.
Riot police and sniffer dogs are now searching for the man.
“I think this is particularly cowardly, that it targets women who are walking alone and behind them early in the morning,” said Superintendent Vincent.
The man was captured on camera robbing a number of properties in Northmead, north of Parramatta
Police officers and sniffer dogs have joined a major manhunt for the man
‘Although we were unable to track down this perpetrator this morning, we are concerned that the crime continues.’
The chaos that ensued during the police search led to Christ the King Primary School in North Rocks being briefly sealed off as officers searched the area for the assailant, but were unable to find him.
There are now concerns that the man is responsible for a series of burglaries in the area over the weekend, raising fears he could strike again.
The man is described as having an average build and is in his 20s. He was last seen wearing black, including a beanie, balaclava, gloves and a Nike hoodie.
Police say people should not approach him themselves, but should call police if they see him.