Police in Baiyin, China, have arrested an alleged serial killer known as 'Jack-The-Ripper' for the murder of 11 victims after nearly three decades of investigations.

According to the police, the suspect, identified as Gao Chengyong, 52, was caught after decades of being sought. He was apprehended at his grocery store in Baiyin, in the northwest province of Gansu.

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The murders that Gao is accused of committing happened between 1988-2002. The first victim, who was 23 years old, was killed at her home at Baiyin on May 26, 1988. His youngest victim was eight years old.

According to the reports, Gao followed a pattern when hunting his victim. He usually targeted young women who lived by themselves, stalking them to their homes. He often raped them before taking their lives.

Most of his victims wore red and he usually scouted them at daytime. Some victims had their reproductive organs removed.

In 2004, a cash reward of 200,000 yuan ($30,000) was offered for any information about 'Jack-the-Ripper' after investigators uncovered a link between the murders.

"The suspect has a sexual perversion and hates women," police said. "He's reclusive and unsociable, but patient."

Gao had been able to escape police custody because he had spent the 28 years in Baiyin but registered his hometown in Lanzhou, about 70km from Baiyin.

The residents in Lanzhou did not give their fingerprints when registering. This made it easy for Gao to reside in Baiyin and escape police custody.

Police investigating the case collected fingerprints, semen, and DNA samples.

Gao was later identified after one of his relatives was put under house arrest for a minor crime. His DNA was collected and tested.

His DNA matched that of 'Jack-the-Ripper'. Police suspected that he was a relative of the suspect. Further investigation brought the authorities to Gao, whose DNA turned out to be a perfect match with the samples collected from the crime scene.

Gao was nicknamed 'Jack-the-Ripper' after a similar serial killer in London. They both used similar techniques, but in London 'Jack-the-Ripper' was never caught.

TagsJack the Ripper, Baiyin, Lanzhou