POLICE have warned women not to go out alone after a series of attacks by a gang of rapists who cruise the streets in two cars looking for victims.

Officers hunting the group of three or more men who have committed three rapes and two attempted abductions in Northampton in the past 10 days, said yesterday that they were following a number of positive leads.

The men, who are black and possibly speak with South African accents, cruise the town centre in a blue BMW 7 Series and a light-coloured Fiat Punto.

The latest victim is a woman of 30, who was found with head injuries after she had been raped some time before 3am on Monday.

Police were first alerted to the gang when a 15-year-old girl was dragged into the white or silver Punto by two men at about 12.45am on August 1. She escaped uninjured.

About 45 minutes later, an 18-year-old was stopped by a man in a BMW, near the scene of the first attack. The Punto was parked behind, with two men inside. As the woman spoke to a man in the BMW, another got out of the Punto and pushed her into the BMW.

The woman was driven to a remote spot in Duston, on the outskirts of Northampton, and raped. She eventually escaped the car and raised the alarm.

The rapist had short, braided hair, and was about 6ft tall with very dark skin. The man who bundled her into the car was described as bald, also had dark skin and was also about 6ft tall. The third man is described as having gaps between his teeth.

After police released details of the attacks, an 18-year-old woman described how she had been raped a day earlier, on July 31, between 12.30am and 1am. She was approached outside a pizza shop by a black man who put his arm round her waist and neck, walked her into a side road and raped her.

On August 3 between 1.30am and 1.50am, a 25-year-old woman was crossing a town centre street when a BMW stopped near by. A man got out and followed her as she ran into Northampton Hospital car park.

He grabbed her and said that he wanted to give her a lift home. The woman said that she was due to meet friends and ran into the hospital.

Detective Chief Inspector John Jones, who made an appeal for help in catching the rapists, said that officers were checking CCTV footage.

An incident room has been set up in the town with 10 officers using the Home Office Large and Major Enquiry computer system.

Detectives are also liaising with neighbouring forces and the National Crime Squad.

Cars matching the descriptions of those involved will be stopped and search.

Mr Jones appealed for any other women who might have been approached or attacked by the men to come forward.

He said: “It is reasonable to assume that there is a certain amount of premeditation — with a group of three there has got to be some premeditation in what they have done.

“It has taken a lot of courage for these women to come forward. If there is anybody else, please come forward so these men can be brought to justice.”

He said that all the victims were bearing up remarkably well considering their ordeals.

He went on: “We are asking all females to avoid being out alone at night or in the early hours of the morning. Use you common sense to keep yourself safe.

“We are very pleased with the response to media appeals and have now received a number of very positive leads to work on.”

The Northampton Rape Crisis Centre said: “Don’t go anywhere on your own and carry a safety device. You have got to be careful.”

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