Riley County authorities say the number of rapes reported in Manhattan and surrounding areas has doubled during the first quarter of this year compared with the same time last year.

16 rapes were reported in the first quarter of 2017, up from eight in the same period in 2016.

Riley County Police Department director Brad Schoen says investigators have not seen anything to indicate one individual or a group of people is responsible for the increase.

Authorities say some of the rapes reported this year came from one investigation, after detectives identified other victims while investigating the original report.

A total of 40 rapes were reported in 2016.

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Associated Press information from: The Manhattan  Mercury]