Furious Kingscliff locals are hunting a man breaking into homes and targeting children

THE mysterious Kingscliff Creeper is breaking into homes to stand over the beds of sleeping children. Now frightened parents are mounting vigilante night patrols.

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KINGSCLIFF parents are mounting vigilante night patrols, fearing a man who has broken into homes, apparently targeting children, will strike again.

So far the mysterious break-ins have involved the man standing over the beds of sleeping children.

He has so far not harmed any but parents fear it is only a matter of time before something worse happens.

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The predator has been dubbed the “Kingscliff Creeper” and police believe he may be the same man who broke into homes in the area last June.

He struck a home in Lorien Way in the early hours of Saturday morning and was discovered when a mother woke to him standing at the end of her child’s bed.

Several other homes also were targeted, with the man leaving fingerprints on children’s bedroom windows, running through yards and breaking in back doors.

A man fitting a similar description broke into several homes in Lorien Way and Pearl St in June.

He was discovered standing at the end of children’s beds on two occasions but managed to flee and was never caught.

Father-of-two Benjamin Gallard said he and a mate were now patrolling at night, laying in wait for the stranger to strike again.

“The police are doing what they can but the Kingscliff station isn’t patrolled at night, so we are getting out there to track him down ourselves and I don’t think we are the only ones,” he said.

“We have noticed quite a few people out and about on foot and in cars in the middle of the night.

“Everyone is rattled – it’s pretty scary, especially that he is targeting kids.

“We will keep hitting the streets at night until he’s found.

“Kingscliff is a quiet little town and we want our families to be safe here.”

One Kingscliff mum who refused to be named said parents were terrified.

“Over the weekend he targeted more than 20 homes and it’s been reported he knocked on a door on Sunday night to tell a woman he was coming back for her child,” she said.

“He has some guts to keep targeting homes night after night.

“It’s a horrible feeling to not feel safe inside your own home.

“I feel for the woman who woke to him standing at the end of the bed where she slept with her 10-year-old boy.

“We need to keep making noise about this and get this creep off the streets.”

Police confirmed they were treating the recent break-ins and the ones in June as related.

Officers have stepped up patrols and have been doorknocking to warn residents.

The man is described as being of Pacific Islander or Maori in appearance, aged in his 30s, of solid build, about 175cm tall and wearing a dark hoodie and long pants.

It is believed he may be transient or homeless and some have reported that he has a strong odour.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who has witnessed an incident, or who might have information to urgently contact Kingscliff Police on [phone] or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Furious Kingscliff locals are hunting a man breaking into homes and targeting children