[dateline] -- Weeks after police connected a series of rapes, the Northwest Serial Rapist remains on the loose.
The suspect has raped or molested seven women on the city's north and west sides. He enters the victims' homes or apartments by going through an unlocked door or breaking in, and his pattern has been to attack late at night while women are alone, in bed and sleeping.
Police said they are acting on more than 200 tips and checking into 75 names of men who callers believe may be connected to the crimes, NBC 4's Mikaela Hunt reported.
No other rapes have been connected and evidence turned over to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation doesn't have enough DNA on it to be checked through the state's CODIS system.
But investigators said they find it interesting that the rapist hasn't attacked since Nov. 2.
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They think it could be due to the fact that there's been so much publicity and many women are arming themselves with everything from pepper spray to handguns.
But officers shared with NBC 4 that they've lost a helpful tool in their investigation.
A database that crashed a while ago could help investigators search by different terms -- for instance, the first words an attacker said to his victims.
After the system crashed, they were unable to retrieve that information.
"It's upsetting to us that it's gone and we don't have that tool now, but it's not the end of it. You still have detectives on the job doing the old fashioned stuff," said Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner.
One investigators said he feels as though a patrol officer will ultimately catch the rapist while he's roaming the streets late at night.
They're sharing that information with officers at roll calls.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
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