Police reassure residents after Dunedin's crime-filled week

Police reassure residents after Dunedin's crime-filled week

Police are reiterating to concerned Dunedin residents that the events of the past week including two assaults and a homicide are not linked.

A 23-year-old woman was knocked to the ground, tied up and sexually assaulted while out running in Ross Creek a week ago.

On Wednesday, the body of woman was found in an industrial area on Strathallan Street, with police upgrading the unexplained death to a homicide at the weekend.

Meanwhile, a cyclist suffered minor injuries after being assaulted on Saturday by a man who punched her a number of times.

Dunedin CIB are continuing to investigate the three incidents and are making progress Detective Inspector Darryl Sweeney says.

"We are still asking the public for help with each case. Any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial to helping police bring these offenders to justice," he says.

Insp Sweeney says there is an experienced and professional group of staff working hard to solve each case and they are in no way linked to each other.

This reassurance comes after Dunedin residents have expressed their concerns about the events over the past week.

"For operational reasons, and while a homicide investigation is ongoing, I'm not in a position to explain in detail why they're not linked, but the information police currently have strongly indicates this is the case," Insp Sweeney says.

Information on any case can be given to Dunedin Police by calling (03) 471 4800 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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