Exclusive: Ride-By Serial Groper Assaulting Women In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Queens are on the hunt for a sexual predator who stalks his victims on a bicycle. He gropes them and then rides off.
As many as a dozen women are coming forward to say it happened to them.
CBS 2's Dave Carlin spoke exclusively to a woman who says she was attacked twice.
The consensus is clear: women want this man off the streets.
On the prowl in Astoria Queens is a bicycle-riding predator that pedals and gropes. Over the past three months multiple women have been grabbed in their private areas by a man able to flee in a flash.
1010 WINS' Al Jones Speaks With Women In Astoria About The Alleged Predator
Podcast
Last week it happened to one woman twice in as many days.
"First time was 30th Avenue and 43rd Street and a man on a bike stopped his bike and groped me from behind. Second time was on this corner of 28th Avenue and 46th Street," the victim said.
These attacks happened in broad daylight, often in crowded areas.
"It was more of a smack the first time and an actual grab the second time. The second time was especially scary because he snuck up on me. I didn't hear him coming," the woman said.
She contacted police, but said she found more immediate help online -- a social networking site where about a dozen women reported nearly identical crimes.
Victims described the man, who had a dark colored bicycle, as 25 to 35 years old, about 5-foot-10, with a medium complexion, round face and short spikey dark hair.
After seeing the Internet postings, City Councilman Peter Vallone, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, contacted police.
"I'd encourage everybody to report any incident like this. There is no excuse for any molesting to go on out there," Vallone said.
Vallone said police have been checking surveillance camera footage along busy 30th Avenue. Police are also checking to see if any sex offenders in this area were recently released from prison.
"He should be arrested. He should be out of here. I'd knock him off if I had the chance," one woman said.
"I'd probably kick him or punch him or go after him or something," another woman added.
"We really need people to get involved and keep an eye on this guy. Get a good description, call 911. Keep him in sight until the police can get there," Vallone said.
The victim said there's only one way to put the brakes on this one man crime wave, get him off his bike and behind bars.
"Speak out about it," the woman said.
Some of the victims said they are getting together to create and post warning flyers and set up public meetings to warn the women of Astoria.
Has this happened to you? Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.
