Vic predator may have known victims' names

A sexual predator, dressed as a tradie and suspected of assaulting five women and a girl, may have had access to his victims' names and Melbourne addresses.

A repairman, or someone posing as one, attacked the women and tried to assault a 13-year-old girl in six incidents between 1984 and 1997.

Police suspect the assaults are linked because of the similarities in each case and DNA found at two crime scenes.

The man, now estimated to be in his 60s, preyed on victims who knew little English and who were less likely to report the attacks.

All his victims were of Asian descent, with some living in inner-city housing commission flats, police said on Monday.

Tradespeople used by the Department of Housing were investigated at the times of the assaults, which all occurred around lunchtime.

The man, described as a tall European, would walk in to their homes saying he was an electrician or repairman before threatening them with a knife.

One of his victims was four months pregnant.

In his final known attack, the man found only children at home and attempted to sexually assault the oldest girl, aged 13.