A serial flasher driving a Mercedes sports car exposed himself to at least seven women in the space of 90 minutes while repeatedly asking for directions around Hitchin and Stevenage on Thursday.
The suspect – who is described as a black man in his 20s, driving a black, older-style Mercedes sports car – exposed himself to four women in Hitchin and three in Stevenage.
On each occasion he approached a woman in the car and asked for directions, then drove off after exposing himself.
The first incident was between 1.15pm and 1.25pm in Hitchin’s Cemetery Road, with the victim being a woman in her 40s.
The second involved an 18-year-old between 1pm and 1.45pm on Chiltern Road in Hitchin.
The third happened at 1.50pm in Stevenage’s Walkern Road.
The fourth was between 1.55pm and 2pm in Church Lane, Stevenage, with a woman in her 60s targeted. The car drove off towards Basils Road.
The fifth incident was between 2pm and 2.10pm in the grounds of the Lister Hospital, with the man exposing himself to a woman in her 40s while she was walking along a service road.
The sixth happened at 2.15pm in Latchmore Close, Hitchin. The victim, a woman in her 60s, was out walking her dog when the man approached in the car, asked for directions and exposed himself. He then drove off and turned left into St John’s Road.
The seventh incident happened at 2.25pm in Hitchin’s Benslow Rise. A woman in her 50s was the victim this time.
Det Insp Lynda Coates, from the North Herts local crime unit, said: “To have a spate of incidents such as this is unusual and I want to reassure residents that we are following several lines of enquiry.
“I am appealing to anyone who thinks they may recognise the man described to please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
“I’d also be interested to hear from anyone who saw the incidents take place or who may have seen anyone fitting the description hanging around the local areas where the incidents happened.”
Anyone with information shuold call Det Sgt Carolyn Taylder on 101, quoting the appropriate crime reference.
The Cemetery Road incident is crime reference G1/17/108. Chiltern Road is G1/17/112, Walkern Road is E1/17/314, Church Lane is E1/17/361, the Lister Hospital is E1/17/317, Latchmore Close is G1/17/125, and Benslow Rise is G1/17/105.
Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or use their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
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