The standard definition of a serial killer is someone who commits a series of murders (more than three), and follows a predictable or characteristic behaviour pattern.

South Africa has had its share of serial killers in the past, from the Station Strangler to Moses Sithole.

Now it looks like there’s a new killer on the loose and he’s targeting middle-aged homeless men in Pretoria.

A high-level task team comprising pathologists, criminal psychologists, crime intelligence and detectives has been assembled to track down the killer after a fifth body was found, reports News24.

The first body was found in a veld near the Mears Park train station.  Two more bodies were found in Magnolia Park on June 8 and 9.  The fourth body was on a pavement on the corner of Justice Mohammed and Troye streets.

All five victims were found in different parts of Muckleneuk, and they were all killed at night.

Two people who may have been attacked by the ‘night crawler’ suspected of killing homeless people in the Muckleneuk area of Tshwane, have told police their attacker was wearing a balaclava and attacked them during the evening while they were sleeping.

A homeless man who resides in Magnolia park believes that he might have been the first person attacked by the killer. He woke up early in the morning in May to a man violently stabbing him.

The man recounted his ordeal, saying the attack happened around 03:00, and that his attacker was wearing a black jacket with a hoodie, wielding a large knife.

“I was the first to be stabbed,” he claimed.

“I was sleeping, he was silent and just started stabbing me, he didn’t say anything.”

The man then managed to jump up and ran into the street screaming, his attacker then ran away.

“He was running like a ghost,” he explained, with the man being fast, and silent as he ran away.

The man managed to get to the nearby Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane, where he was treated for several stab wounds on his left arm, stomach, and knee.

Another man was also attacked in the area and also managed to survive.

People in the area have expressed fear for their safety:

TimesLIVE spoke to Gauteng police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela, who instructed the investigative task team.

“Without wanting to sow panic in our communities, especially in the Muckleneuk area, we want to caution the public to be vigilant and be aware of this nocturnal prowler preying on the vulnerable,” said Mawela.

“Our task, as the police, is to work around the clock and make sure that this madness is brought to an end.”

We’ll keep you updated as the investigation progresses.

[sources:news24&timeslive]