Reports of multiple groping incidents just days apart in the same part of Queens, with suspects preying on young girls on their way to school, have alarmed the community — and police suspect two men are behind the troubling attacks.
Detectives said the suspects have targeted children in the Elmhurst and Maspeth neighborhoods in deliberate, planned-out attacks.
One of the incidents involving preteen girls happened Wednesday, Sept. 18, when a man used a dog "to entice the girls into a conversation" while on a city bus, according NYPD Chief John Chell.
The unidentified man carrying a chihuahua approached an 11-year-old girl on a crowded Q58 MTA bus around 7:30 a.m. and allegedly put his hands on her chest. Then, less than 10 minutes later, police said he inappropriately grabbed another 11-year-old girl.
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In both instances, police said he used the small dog to make the children feel comfortable. After the second groping on the bus, police said the man hopped off around 72nd Street and Grand Avenue and headed north.
"This man is intentionally using a puppy to sexually abuse girls on the way to school, on a bus," Chell told NBC New York.
Images of the suspect released by the NYPD show the man with curly hair who's approximately 30 to 45 years old, and he was last seen carrying around the dog. He was wearing a black baseball cap, yellow jacket and black sweatpants.
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A second groper was discovered after an additional incident just two days later, on Friday. Police said a man approached a 12-year-old girl just after 8 a.m. near 71st Street and 54th Avenue.
That is where the man, around 25 years old, spat his drink on the girl as she was walking to school and grabbed her backside while appearing to clean up his mess, according to police. He then attempted to sexually assault another 12-year-old girl moments later using the same ruse.
The suspect was seen on surveillance images with a blue scrubs and a black head cover.
"Predatorial, dangerous, and common denominator: young girls going to school," a disgusted Chell said. "This is the M.O. of a sexual predator. This is a parent's worst nightmare."
The NYPD is increasing police resources across the community and also encouraging parents to speak to their children about the two men suspected in the incidents. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
