Some of the posts in this thread are beyond sickening... and people wonder why some of the women around here come off as pissy?
(I would have totally gotten myself banned typing my response to this thread had I not found it late at night and known I don't have a magic "I'm not an admin right now" button)
Firstly, the prat who posted about SOS and women dying their hair - Big fucking difference mate, the police released warnings about the profile of the victims when it came to SOS and many others. In some cases, they've even been known to send officers to Universities and the likes to ensure that those most likely to fit the profile were aware of it. They did not however send officers out onto the streets, nor encourage officers already on the streets to take individuals fitting the profile, single them out and ensure they left the discussion feeling they were asking for it.
There are two choices whether there is a known rapist working in your area or not:
1. You research it yourself, watch the news and the likes, determine if you think you're a likely target, decide if you are, what if any steps you will take to limit your target potential.
2. Assume it'll not happen to you, and carry on regardless.
The majority of us probably (I hope!) fall into group 1. We get more than enough blame put upon us after we've been raped, in many cases forcing us to not come forward. Making us feel like it's all our fault before it's even happened only serves to give the police an easier time because there's no way in hell most would report it after that.
Those in group 2, well, they've already made their decision so no amount of "warning" is going to make a difference.
The police have ever right and responsibility to warn those at risk, they do not have any right to make victims of people going about their every day lives.