'Sleepwatcher' targets young women
By QMI Agency
Halifax Regional Police have released four sketches of the man locals have dubbed "the Sleepwatcher."
Since 2008, Halifax police have responded to 20 reports of a man sneaking into young women's homes and watching them sleep.
In most cases, the women were unharmed, but a recent break-in turned physical, police said.
"It's of our concern that this has the possibility to escalate," said Const. Brian Palmeter of the Halifax Regional Police.
So far, police have released four sketches of the man Haligonians have dubbed the Sleepwatcher.
Palmeter told QMI Agency that police believe one man is responsible for several of these break-ins, though in many cases, police weren't able to glean a description, so there's no way to be sure that all 20 cases are connected.
The general pattern is that a man sneaks into a woman's home through an unlocked door or window, watches her sleep until she notices him, then flees the scene.
There have been three such break-ins in the past two months, one of which, on Sept. 19, became violent, Palmeter said.
"It's alleged that he touched two girls and it would have been for a sexual purpose," said Palmeter.
Palmeter said there was another report of a man touching a victim about a year ago, but it wasn't of a sexual nature. "It was almost suggested he was perhaps trying to wake the person up," he said.
The victims have all been university-aged women, but police urge everyone to lock their doors and windows.
Police have no suspects.
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