Geelong night stalker: Serial prowler attempting to enter doors with unusual instrument

The hunt for the enigma known as the Geelong “night stalker” is entering its third month, as police probe a disturbing element of his dead-of-night offending.

Detectives involved in the search for a mysterious Geelong prowler have revealed they believe he may be using a piece of wire to attempt to unlock front doors, as police await forensic results from a key piece of evidence.

The hunt for the offender known as the Geelong “night stalker” is entering its third month, with a special branch of the Geelong Criminal Investigation Unit dedicated to apprehending the enigma of the dark.

He has hit more than 25 homes across Rippleside, Bell Post Hill, Highton, Torquay and Werribee, with disturbing vision of his trespassing captured on multiple CCTV cameras.

The Geelong Night Stalker is using what is believed to be a piece of wire to attempt to unlock front doors.

Victoria Police issued a fresh plea for help on Saturday, releasing stills of the alleged offender without the surgical face mask he has worn during almost every attack.

It comes as Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Gavin Mullins urged residents to “lock your doors” and secure their homes in an effort to deter the stranger in the night, who he said was possibly armed with a “flat piece of wire.”

“We are asking people to lock up and secure their doors as best as possible, that is a great deterrent and prevention for an offender like this,” he said.

“It is a very rudimentary test that he does on the door locks, and it is pretty basic the method of entry that he is trying.

“The community is definitely concerned about him as are we.”

Sgt Mullins said a green broad brimmed hat found in a Rippleside street in February, after one attempted break-in, likely belonged to the offender.

It’s believed he dropped it after being chased out of a property by a pet German Shepherd.

“It was very, very similar to the hat that he was wearing, so we are fairly confident that was his hat,” he said.

“We are engaged in that process at the moment with forensics.”

Despite the widespread coverage and clear vision of the alleged stalker, police are yet to identify a suspect.

Images of a man Victoria Police are searching for in relation to a number of alleged attempted aggravated burglaries in Geelong and Melbourne. The offending has become known as the Geelong night stalker series.

Detectives believe he may be parking his vehicle a long distance away from his target areas before fleeing undetected, indicating an unnerving level of planning and premeditation.

Sgt Mullins said it was possible the man could live in Melbourne.

It comes as Geelong police continue to conduct specific and strategic patrols over “night shifts” which began in early February.

The prowling series started in January, with the last known attempted break-in occurring in Werribee on March 8.

The Geelong night stalker is still at large.

On that occasion he targeted four homes across two consecutive days.

Sgt Mullins said the offending could certainly be predatory or “some other thrill seeking sort of behaviour.”

“Given there is no property being damaged or stolen that is definitely a concern and one of the reasons we are taking this so seriously,” he said.

Originally published as Geelong night stalker: Serial prowler attempting to enter doors with unusual instrument