Police investigating a series of "brazen" sex attacks in the South Auckland suburb of Mangere have taken a man into custody.
South Auckland police have been hunting for a man who has been approaching women and girls in and around a well used walkway between Cape Road and Mascot Avenue behind the town centre.
Police say the man indecently assaulted a 12-year-old girl on the walkway near the Mangere pools early in September.
Less than two weeks later, an eight-year-old girl was sexually violated on the walkway as she accompanied her six-year-old sister home.
Police say the attacks have been brazen and occurred between 1pm and 3pm.
A man has been taken into custody following a further attack on Tuesday. However, he has not been charged and police will not say whether he is connected to the earlier attacks.
Police say they are following up a "strong lead" from a member of public who believed they knew the identity of the attacker, but are refusing to comment further on the matter until Wednesday morning.
