Police have taken the major step of warning Perth residents to take extra care over their safety as the hunt continues for a masked attacker.
Possible links are being investigated between two attacks on women which happened in the Bridgend area of the city on Monday and a string of sneak-in thefts.
As concerned residents say they fear the man may strike again, police have stepped up their presence in the Bridgend area, with officers carrying out door-to-door inquiries.
One young woman living nearby said: ”My mum and dad are on holiday and it’s just me and my sister and granddad in the house, so we’re a bit worried. Thankfully, they come home tonight.”
Police urged residents not to venture out alone after dark.
A spokeswoman said: ”If you think you are being followed, cross the road and if you are followed, cross back again.”
The spokeswoman also recommended that members of the public try to keep to well-lit and busy areas and, if at all possible, avoid walking home alone.
She said: “If you are out walking or jogging it is advisable not to listen to music or the radio, so that you can stay alert to your surroundings. If possible, carry a personal alarm.
“If someone does approach you and tries to take something from you, it may be better to just let them take the item, rather than get into a confrontation and risk injury.”
The police are also suggesting that residents make sure that doors to their houses and cars are locked when they are inside.
The warnings come as detectives continue to investigate whether a man responsible for a ”sickening” sexual attack has also been responsible for other crimes.
Police are probing a link between the assault and a string of sneak-in thefts. The investigation was widened following reports of several sneak thefts and the discovery of Mulberry and Miu Miu handbags (pictured below) nearby.
The sexual assault on the 23-year-old woman occurred on Monday. Just hours earlier a 68-year-old woman suffered a facial injury during an attempted robbery at her home.
Those living near the scene of the sexual assault said they had been alarmed by the crime.
A local man said: ”It’s sickening. We are all shocked by it. The house is just over the back from us. It’s not the sort of area where these things happen. It’s normally a very quiet area.”
A father of two teenage girls said they were now reluctant to leave the house.
”The atmosphere (in the area) is a bit tense,” he said. ”I have two young daughters and although I told them that with all the police about it’s one of the safest places to be, they don’t want to go out.”
Councillor Heather Stewart said she had felt ”physically sick” on reading details of the shocking attacks.
”I am extremely concerned that two violent incidents have happened in a quiet area of Perth within 24 hours,” she said. ”I have spoken to senior officers at Tayside Police to receive assurances that all that can be done will be done.
”Until this person or persons are apprehended, I would urge the whole of Perth not just residents in Bridgend to be extremely vigilant.”
Fellow Perth City Centre councillor Archie MacLellan urged people to come forward with information.
He said those responsible for the attacks ”should not be shielded”.
”There are no words available to describe the sort of person who would perpetrate attacks like this upon defenceless women,” he said. ”It is vital that anyone with information should pass it on to the police without delay.”
The suspect in Monday’s sexual assault was wearing a dark beanie hat, a navy scarf around his face, a dark jacket and khaki waterproof trousers and spoke with an English accent.
Acting Detective Inspector Marc Lorente said: ”This has been a particularly distressing incident for the woman involved. High-profile patrols will continue in the area to reassure residents and the inquiry team are continuing to trawl CCTV throughout the city, and carry out house-to-house inquiries as well as full forensic examinations.”
The force said personal alarms are available to the public through the community safety department at Perth police station on 01738 892642 or from the mobile community office at Bridgend.