Detectives investigating the abduction and rape of two women in north London have released a CCTV image of a suspect.

The women, in their 20s, were snatched separately on Thursday, the first shortly after midnight from a street in Chingford, and the second about 12 hours later at 12.15pm from a street in Edgware, Metropolitan police said.

The suspect drove the women to a hotel and attempted to book a room at about 1pm, but left when this was unavailable. The women escaped after a struggle in Osborne Road, Watford, at about 2.30pm, police said.

The suspect is described as a white man of muscular build, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, with a bald head or shaved blond hair and a light-coloured short beard. He is described as having a distinctive tattoo of the name Bobbie on his stomach.

The car he was driving is believed to be a silver or grey Ford S-Max people-carrier, with false registration plates. A CCTV still image of the car has also been released.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest CCTV image of the car that was driven by the suspect. Photograph: Metropolitan police/PA

DCI Katherine Goodwin, who is leading the investigation, said of the CCTV image: “I would ask everyone to take a good look – does this man look familiar? Do you know anyone with the name Bobbie tattooed on his stomach?

“Did you see a man matching this description in and around the Chingford or Edgware areas on Thursday 25 April? We believe he travelled around north London and Hertfordshire in his car from the early hours of Thursday and he may have come into contact with other members of the public.

“Equally he may have abandoned his car somewhere. If an unfamiliar car of this description is now parked on your street, call police straight away.”

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rape. The hunt for the rapist continues.