‘We just don’t understand it’: Concern’ over serial night stalker

Eerie surveillance footage of a serial night stalker has been released after he was involved in a series of disturbing trespassing incidents.

Frightening CCTV has revealed the movements of an unidentified man known as the “night stalker” who has been terrorising sleeping neighbourhoods.

Police believe the man has been prowling the Victorian city of Geelong, near Melbourne, and has scoped out access to 25 homes.

Chilling surveillance footage released by police shows the man loitering around the homes and attempting to enter them.

In one CCTV video clip, the man is pictured fleeing the premises after a dog approaches him. Picture: Victoria Police

Victoria Police confirmed the unidentified man did manage to enter two homes in a worrying escalation. He stayed in both homes for a short time before fleeing.

There has been no damage to homes or property stolen, but police are concerned about what could possibly be motivating the behaviour.

In one of the eerie incidents captured on CCTV, the man takes off his shoes before entering a home in Bell Post Hill. The footage reveals he spent six minutes inside the home before leaving.

Another surveillance footage segment shows the man leaving a property after being approached by a dog.

Police have bolstered their investigation efforts amid rising fears that his strange behaviour could escalate even further in Victoria’s southwest regions.

Police say the “Geelong night stalker” widened his prowling radius from Geelong’s inner suburbs to Torquay and Werribee from January 29 to March 7.

Police said the man had not been forcing entry and instead had mostly been targeting unlocked doors. Picture: Victoria Police.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Gavin Mullins said the lack of motivation behind the incidents had caused police to fear a possible escalation into more serious behaviour.

“The normal motivation is to steal something, or it might be to assault someone inside, but there’s been nothing indicating that,” he told Sunrise on Monday.

“We just don’t understand it at this stage.”

Police have now issued new appeals for public information, releasing fresh CCTV vision to help identify a man who investigators believe may reside in Melbourne.

The trespassing incidents occurred across Bell Post Hill, Highton, Rippleside, Torquay and Werribee, and police are looking to speak to a man who is believed to have worn a broad brimmed sun hat at times.

He is described as being of caucasian appearance, medium build, about 180cm tall and aged between 30 and 40.

The man captured in the CCTV footage has often donned a broad brimmed sun hat. Picture: Victoria Police.

Sergeant Mullins said the disturbing incidents served as a reminder to the community to be mindful of home security.

“Lock your doors, double lock your doors, make sure it’s safe that you can get out of the house if there’s a fire or an emergency,” he said.

“Just basic security, keeping doors and windows secured, is the main way that’ll deter this offender.

“He’s not forcing entry … he just seems to be manipulating unlocked doors mostly.”

Originally published as ‘We just don’t understand it’: Concern’ over serial night stalker