Several women have been targeted by a serial speed camera at a popular walking spot, with police promising ‘positive body language’ will help them stay safe.
At least five women have shared online their harrowing experiences with a male flasher at Lake Eden in North Lakes, a northern suburb of Brisbane, over the past two months.
The man is described as having blond hair and often wearing a singlet and colored board shorts.
April reported seeing him on a Sunday afternoon in late March Courier mail reported.
She saw the strange man sitting on a bench and staring at her.
A serial speed camera has targeted women walking at Lake Eden (pictured) in North Lakes, Brisbane
“There was a group of people walking ahead and as they turned the corner he stood up and started walking forward,” she said.
‘As I approached the corner I walked as far away from the bush as I could and he stuck his head out from behind the tree.
“When I screamed, he ran off in the opposite direction.”
Maggie came across the Flash on April 15 while walking her dogs.
She saw the man walking towards her before ‘fled’ into nearby bushes.
“At first I thought he was going to pee, but that in itself is strange because he walked towards me,” she says.
‘I could still see him through the trees.
“He put his hands down his pants, but I saw the path to the left and took that path so I didn’t have to walk past him.”
Maggie believes the man only left her alone when someone else walked past her.
“I think he would follow me down that path,” she said.
‘I hadn’t seen him until he walked up to me right in front of me, so I think he just saw that I was alone.
“There was no one around and I thought it was a good time.”
Holly shared another report against the man on April 26, when she saw him running towards her before slowing down as he got close.
“I continued my walk and then saw him jump over the railing into the bushes,” she said
“As I walked by, I turned and saw him hiding behind the tree with his hands in his waistband.
‘When he saw me looking, he jumped back over the railing and ran the other way.
‘While he was running he kept looking at me.’
Sophie said she almost burst into tears when the man approached her on April 27.
“I saw a man coming up behind me and didn’t think anything of it until I noticed he had come in front of me and started looking at me as I walked by,” she said.
“He had his pants down and his hands in his you-know-what.
‘I started walking towards people quickly because I thought it was quite suspicious.
‘Then I heard him shouting at me to come to him, and that’s when I started to panic.
“I was still a bit far from my car, so I started jogging and realized he was gone.”
Another woman, Paula, saw the man doing “strange things” with his hands down his pants in April.
Concerned residents welcomed the increased police presence at the lake but said they will not feel safe until CCTV cameras are installed in the park.
Many women are now too scared to walk around the area alone, fearing that the man’s behavior could suddenly escalate.
The Queensland Police Service Facebook page told residents that ‘good personal safety can be achieved through the following steps’.
The man is described as having blond hair and often wearing a singlet and colored board shorts.
“Demonstrate strong and positive body language to appear confident,” it said.
‘Take your surroundings into account; listen to, trust and act on your instincts if you sense danger, remove yourself from the situation.
‘Where possible, walk in well-lit areas and look out for oncoming traffic; inform a friend or family member where you are going and provide an arrival time for your return.
“Together we can do our part to ensure our communities are as safe as possible.”
Queensland Police asked anyone with information about the speed camera to contact Policelink on 131 444.