Women On Edge As Search Continues For Suspected Serial Groper In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Women are on edge as the search continues for a man who police said groped four people in Queens.
The incidents happened between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in Astoria and Woodside.
The suspect came up to the victims and tried to speak to them, and then touched their buttocks over their clothes, police said. The ages of the victims ranged from 14 to 25.
"He's a pig," one woman told CBS 2's Janelle Burrell. "We're females. To have somebody grope you, it's just scary."
"It's disturbing somebody would do that," Astoria resident Emily Marmol said.
"There's always guys who would look, but I never thought anyone had the audacity to hit a girl," Astoria resident Chaimaa Nouira.
Women in the area said these types of incidents are becoming all too common, and with this latest suspect still on the loose, some are thinking of taking extra precautions.
"Guys flashing women in the train and the platforms --it feels like this is what's going on nowadays" said Judy Tineo, who works nearby.
"Women got to learn some self-defense because it's just getting out of control," one woman said.
Police released surveillance photos of the suspect taken during the second incident, which occurred inside a Rite Aid store on Steinway Street, where police said he groped a 25-year-old woman.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, 25 to 30 years old, about 6 feet tall and 220 to 250 pounds.
Anyone with information was asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, log onto the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories: