Camden police seeking rapist who attacked prostitutes

Camden police are on the hunt for a man they say has raped at least two women in the city since late May and who may be targeting prostitutes.

"The description of the attacker, the location of the assaults, and the similarities between both victims' experiences suggest the same man attacked both women," the Camden County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement Thursday.

The office released two composite sketches of the man being sought.

In the first attack, about 5 a.m. May 21, a man approached a woman near Broadway and Chestnut Street, led her at knifepoint to woods near Sixth and Jackson Streets, and sexually assaulted her, according to authorities.

On July 26, officials said, a woman reported that a man approached her at Broadway and Chelton Avenue about 2 p.m. and raped her at knifepoint in woods near Sixth and Chelton.

"Both women described their attacker as initially friendly and pleasant," officials said. "He approached them soliciting sex and asking if they wanted to get high. While walking with him, the man's demeanor changed and he drew a weapon."

The victims, who are in their 20s, said their assailant was Hispanic and spoke broken English. He was between 30 and 45 years old, 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10, and had thinning, slicked-back hair, they said.

He had a prominent, jutting chin and wore multi-strand, multicolored bead necklaces during both attacks, officials said.

One victim told investigators the man had long nails on his little fingers, wore black Sketcher boots, and rode a blue-and-black mountain bike.

Anyone who can help identify the rapist is asked to contact the Camden Police Department Special Victims Unit at 856-757-7160.