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Sexual predator? St. John's residents worried by 'suspicious activity' on Larkhall Street

People who live on Larkhall Street in St. John's say they are worried there's a sexual predator in their neighbourhood.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said Thursday it is investigating "suspicious activity" in the area, after reports of a strange man peering through windows and taking pictures of children playing on the street.

Alison Blackmore told CBC News that she's been afraid since she saw a man hiding outside her home on Larkhall Street a few weeks ago, watching her through her window.

"I hope nobody else has to feel this way because it's not right," she said.

Blackmore said she was cooking supper when she heard rocks falling on an embankment right outside her apartment window. She said a man was looking inside and ran toward the back of the building.

Her boyfriend went outside and confronted the man. What he saw was disturbing.

"It appeared as though he had his hands down the front of his pants so my boyfriend shouted out to him, 'what are you doing?' and he mumbled something and he took off then, so my boyfriend immediately contacted the RNC."

This week, another resident in the neighbourhood contacted police after seeing a strange man on her property peering in her window.

More reason to worry

Just after Blackmore's scare in early October, someone put posters on poles around Larkhall Street, claiming that a registered sex offender was living in the area. The posters showed a picture of the man and said he was seen photographing children playing.

Blackmore believes it was the same man who peered in her window.

Now she keeps a steel bat in her home for protection. "We don't feel safe," she said.

Erin Bonnell and Rachel Pearson are students who rent a house on Larkhall Street, which has an elementary school and a junior high.

"I like to feel like I'm very secure where I live and it made me feel very uneasy. Both of us, where we're staying so close to what's happening," said Pearson.

"It made me scared. I'm not walking at night by myself at all," said Bonnell.