Suspect caught in women-home-alone attacks

Police have apprehended a suspect in connection with two incidents back in January, when two women said an unknown man attacked them in their own apartments.

According to local media, a male suspect is in police custody in connection with two incidents earlier this year, when women in two separate cases told investigators they were attacked and robbed while they were alone in their own house.

Police did not provide details regarding the suspect or the arrest, saying only that his arrest was in connection with two incidents in Paphos on January 25 and 28.

In the first case, a female described only as a 31-year-old individual, said she answered the door on a Saturday night after the door bell rang and saw an unknown male standing outside. When she tried to quickly shut the door, the man used force to gain entry into the apartment.

According to the complaint, the suspect struck the woman, tied her hands, grabbed her mobile phone as well as cash that was inside her pocket, before running away. She then went to a neighbour where she managed to get help.

Three days later, in the second case, a woman from India said she was attacked in her apartment at night by an unknown male, who knocked on her door pretending to be there for maintenance.

Reports said electricity and water were shut off in the woman’s apartment prior to the incident, followed by a knock on the door. When she answered, an unknown male pretending to be a worker came in and walked to the kitchen sink.

According to the complaint filed by the woman, who lives in Cyprus on a work visa, the man grabbed a glass, broke it, and used it to threaten the female tenant while holding her down.

The female, whose age was not disclosed to the media, began shouting and managed to get away, while the attacker also started to run away.

Police did not issue an official report on the arrest but local media said the warrant was issued in connection with multiple crimes, including forced entry, robbery, night burglary, theft, and aggravated assault.

Local media reported that law enforcement tracked down the suspect with the help of scientific evidence before issuing a warrant for his arrest.