ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orlando police confirmed to News 6 they have increased patrols in the Laureate Park area of Lake Nona after an incident Sunday in which police said a woman was threatened with rape.
This comes after released video surveillance was released of a man who threatened to rape a woman out walking her dog nearby around 6 a.m. Sunday, police said.
Police said the video shows him getting out of what may be an older model four-door Hyundai Elantra before approaching her.
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Police said the suspicious incident happened in the Laureate Park area along Tavistock Lakes Boulevard when the victim stopped to take a photo. They said she then spotted a man with his phone’s flashlight on coming toward her.
According to the incident report, the unknown man started walking with her, saying good morning and complimenting her body. The report shows he eventually asked for her number and if they could be friends. When she said no and told him she was calling a family member, the report says that’s when he told her, “Next time I’m going to rape you.”
Police said he then got into his car, headed east on Tavistock Lakes Boulevard and drove away.
“I’ve never really felt unsafe around here. So right now, it’s kind of a surprise,” Sydney Koch said.
Sydney Koch lives nearby and said she’s watching her back more.
This comes as Orlando police said that over the last few years, there’s been a pattern of this suspicious activity in the Lake Nona area involving unknown men approaching women early in the morning — including at least one other incident this year in the Laureate Park area.
News 6 is working to learn more about the prior similar incidents.
Anyone with information on the man seen in the video is asked to call Orlando police. The victim described the man as roughly 25 years old, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighting 150 pounds.
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