Police have arrested a 45-year-old man accused of raping a 9-year-old girl in Exarchia, central Athens, last week, authorities said yesterday.

The suspect is believed to have followed the girl home on Thursday after pretending to be a law officer. Upon entering the girl’s house, he allegedly raped her before stealing money and jewelry on the premises. The girl’s parents were absent when the incident took place, according to police, who managed to track down the man shortly afterwards.

Police added that the suspect has been connected to similiar incidents in the past.

Separately, a 30-year-old foreign national was arrested yesterday after allegedly raping a woman on Friday night after she left an Athens nightspot. The suspect, along with a second man that police are still looking for, allegedly sexually assaulted the woman, aged 30.