Larry Takahashi sightings in Vancouver are false: police

VANCOUVER – Vancouver police say convicted rapist Larry Takahashi has not been seen in an east Vancouver neighbourhood.

Someone has posted leaflets claiming to have seen the 63-year-old in the neighbourhood but Acting Sgt. Brian Montague says the sightings are false.

Takahashi, dubbed the balaclava rapist, is staying at a halfway house in an unknown location in Vancouver but Montague says he has not yet left that facility.

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In 1984, Takahashi was sentenced to three life terms after admitting to raping at least 30 women in Edmonton in the 1970s and 1980s.

He was recently granted parole, even though a Parole Board report found he poses a moderate to high risk to reoffend and is a danger to teen girls and women.

Privacy laws prevent officials from naming the halfway house where Takahashi is staying.

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Montague says police understand concerns about safety, and residents should be aware of his presence so they can protect themselves, but he says the alleged sightings, so far, are what he calls “phantom.”

“We want the public to be vigilant. But we are concerned that someone who may resemble Mr. Takahashi may wind up in a situation that we don’t want them in, obviously. We don’t want people taking matters into their own hands,” says Montague.

Police assure the public that they are keeping close tabs on Takahashi and urge residents to call 911 if they see him violating any of his conditions, including a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. (News1130)