Miami Beach Police Step Up Efforts To Find 'Serial Creeper'
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) -- Miami Beach Police detectives went door-to-door Wednesday night warning residents of a "serial creeper," now officially linked by DNA to a sexual battery case on the beach.
Officers said through DNA test results, they were able to confirm the link between the man, known as the 'serial creeper,' and the Miami Beach incident in which a woman, on August 18th, woke up in her apartment to the strange man performing oral sex on her.
In response, the department says they are redoubling their efforts to alert the community about this man which authorities have been in search of for more than a year.
"Right now what we're doing is redoubling our efforts, we're going to be doing area canvasses with our neighborhood resource officers, as well as our general patrol officers going door to door asking anyone if they have any information," said Ofc. Ernesto Rodriguez with the Miami Beach Police Department.
Related: Revolutionary DNA Tech Used To Create 'Serial Creeper' Sketch
Last month, authorities released a new sketch of the man they want communities to keep an eye out for. Officers hoped the new image would lead them to the man they believe is stalking and in some cases terrorizing women in cases dating back to 2013.
The suspect pictures surprised Miami Beach residents Christy and Heiner Zacher.
They told CBS4's Natalia Zea the serial sex predator looks very similar to the man, who was also wearing a hooded shirt, and who they say walked into their apartment a few months ago, in the middle of the night, and tried to enter their bedroom.
"We were lying in bed watching TV and the dog was getting a little weird, putting his head up and looking around and all of a sudden there was this guy standing in the doorway," said Heiner. "I didn't recognize him so I jumped up and charged him. Started pushing him out, telling him to get the hell out of my house...he said, 'wrong house, wrong house' and took off. And that was the end of the story for me."
They say that man was wearing a hooded shirt, like the serial rapist and he spoke with a soft voice, which police say is a trademark of the man they are looking for.
"We were trying to think it really was a mistake so that gave us some peace of mind, but if there's been other instances and that's what the guy looks like then maybe it wasn't an accident," said Christy.
Heiner added, "Thank God I was there."
Sources previously told CBS4 News the same man could be to blame for anywhere from 15 to 40 cases.
Related: Police Release New Composite Image Of 'Serial Creeper'
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) profile suggests the man police are looking for is soft-spoken, sexually and socially immature and a loner.
Officers in the other cities are also stepping up their efforts and urging the community to be vigilant to stop the man before he strikes again.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at (305) 471 - TIPS.
