Serial Rapist on the Loose

Spanning from last December to March of this year, the borough of Queens and Nassau County have been been plagued with a serial rapist, with as many as five incidents during that time period.
After a six-month hiatus, the rapist has returned, as two cases were reported to the 105th precinct this month with similar patterns and descriptions.
The alleged criminal has been described as a 5’10" to 6 foot black male between 150-180 lbs. and the ages 25-30. Until they are alone he has been said by some of the seven victims to have short dark hair, while others claim he has dread locks. He usually however wears a hat or ski mask.
"The victims conflict on whether he has a Jamaican accent," Police Officer Chris Iannone said, "but it could have been put on. There are some minor differences from case to case, but basically they all have the same M.O. We can’t be 100% that they’re the same person, but all signs seem to point that way."
The basic pattern the assailant seems to go by is to follow a black or Indian woman between the ages of 20-30. He then approaches them from behind and threatens them with a metallic object, which a couple of victims have identified as a silver gun. He then proceeds to rob them of their money and jewelery and rape them. While he is physical in that he pushes or drags the women into backyards, alleys, or their houses, he has yet to violently assault any of them. He sometimes uses duck tape however to tie them up.
The first the many rapes happened on December 22, 1998 in Rosedale. Another occurred in December, two more in January, and then again in March before the half year in which the case was dormant. On January 12, the perpetrator actually knocked on the victim’s door claiming that he was a taxi driver and had come to pick her up. When she told him that he was mistaken, he asked to use the phone to call his dispatcher. Once let it, he committed the violent sex crime.
The latest incident occurred on September 9 in Queens Village. He attempted another rape just five days earlier and two blocks away, but was chased away by a neighbor who heard the commotion and thus he was unable to complete penetration.
Headed by Dep. Inspector William Morris of the 105th precinct and the Lt. Patrick Mullen of the Queens Special Victim’s Unit, the authorities have done their best to find the perpetrator, but to no avail. As of now, they have the previous brief description and a suspicion from sitings before and after the incidents that he might drive a blue minivan.
"We have undercover officers and special units assigned to this case seven days a week," Iannone assured. "After each incident we do a grid search and patrol the area. Our commanding officer has put a lot of focus onto this case and we have developed a strategy to try and stop him. I can’t reveal what it is, but we have developed a strategy."
Despite the horror the serial rapist has caused throughout Queens this last year, residents can take relief in knowing the rape incidents are down this year compared to last. Through September 21 of 1998, a total of 303 cases were reported with 110 in northern Queens and 193 in the south. Through the same date this year, those numbers are 251 total, and 91 and 160 respectively.
"We feel confident that we’ll get him in time," Iannone said. "Together we’ll do everything in our power to stop him."