Columbus Police Turn To Crime Stoppers In Hilltop "Creeper" Case

Columbus Police have turned to Crime Stoppers to help with the Hilltop "creeperâ€? case. WOSU reports people living in the area continue to worry, but remain vigilant. “I stay up almost all night long just making sure that no one’s peeping around my house," Hilltop resident Jennifer Coleman says. Coleman has three young children. She says she used to sleep upstairs with them. “I sleep downstairs now. That way if anyone messes around my house I know. And I keep all my doors and windows locked. Half the time during the day I do.â€? Columbus Police Sergeant Dave Pelphrey says women who live on the West Side should be cautious. “Right now the victims have all been female. They’ve been both black and white and the age range runs from 15 being the youngest to the mid-40s," Pelphrey says. "They’ve been single females in the residence, but there’s been several of the incidences where there have been other people in the house.â€? The “creeperâ€? enters the homes through unlocked windows and doors. Some of the women have been touched in a sexual manner. And police fear the crimes could escalate if the “creeperâ€? is not found. Police released a vague description of the person they’re looking for: African American, tall, medium build and between 20 and 40 years old. “Waking someone up at 4 o’clock in the morning, or 5 o’clock in the morning, they just aren’t able to give us a good description of their assailant," Pelphrey says. 21-year-old Hilltop resident Tara Sout says she’s not taking any chances. “Make sure our doors are locked, make sure all of our windows are down and locked at night. We make sure everything’s just dead bolted.â€? And Stout says she has a weapon, “I carry a knife with me at all times.â€? Pelphrey says he hopes the Crime Stoppers reward will incentivize people to call with information . “When we need tips and we want tips and more tips, this is how we get them," he says. The “creeperâ€? has entered 19 homes in the Hilltop and Franklinton areas during the past nine months. The last incident was almost two weeks ago.