Women’s group voices concerns as ‘balaclava rapist’ moves to Vancouver

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Women should not have to fear for their safety — that is the message from a rape crisis centre in Vancouver as Larry Takahashi, known as the ‘balaclava rapist,’ moves to a halfway house in the city.

The organization’s main concern is the risk he poses to re-offend. Earlier this year, the Parole Board of Canada said he was at moderate to high-risk to attack someone again and in particular, he poses a significant risk of targeting teens and adult women.

“If there is a potential to re-offend then the legal system needs to really think about how it’s being responsible to women in the community,” says Ariana Barer with Women Against Violence Against Women. “We see this with warnings that come out with perpetrators that have potential to re-offend and we need to remember that women are not responsible for the sexual violence that’s committed against them,” she adds.

Takahashi has to abide by his day parole supervision orders. He is 63-years-old, Asian, 5’9″, 154 pounds with short, grey hair and brown eyes. He normally wears prescription glasses.

He has a long criminal history dating back to the 1970s in Alberta. Takahashi was sent to prison in 1984 after admitting to “hands on” assaults on 29 women. He is currently serving a life sentence for multiple counts of rape, disguise with intent, aggravated sexual assault, as well as forcible confinement and sexual assault with a weapon.

Takahashi’s conditions
*not to consume, purchase or possess alcohol
*not to consume, purchase or possess drugs other than prescribed medication and over the counter drugs taken as recommended by the manufacturer
*participate in a treatment program for personal and emotional issues and sexual deviancy
not to purchase, acquire, possess or access pornography or sexually explicit material in any form or type of media
*no direct or indirect contact with his victims or any member of the victims’ families
*not to attend any college or university residential area, without the written permission of your parole supervisor
*must remain within the city proposed by Correctional Service Canada unless pre-approved by your parole supervisor
*a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., except for work-related reasons and only with your parole supervisor’s written agreement
*not to pick up or convey any female passengers while driving
*not to own, use or possess a computer, or any technological device that would allow unsupervised access to the Internet
*immediately report all intimate sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships with females to the parole supervisor

If you see him break any of these conditions, you are asked to call 911 right away.

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