NYPD detectives are hunting for a sexual predator who grabbed and molested two young women in lower Manhattan within 24 hours, police said Saturday.
The lanky suspect, who was caught on camera toting a backpack and carrying a paper shopping bag in the crook of his arm, attacked his first victim, a 25-year-old woman, at about 2:05 a.m. on May 17 at the border of SoHo and Greenwich Village, cops said.
The man approached his victim at the corner of West Houston and MacDougal Sts. holding up his cellphone, which had a map on the screen, cops said.
He asked his victim for directions, then grabbed her breasts and waist before running off.
At about 1:50 a.m. the next day, he was back on West Houston St., this time near Thompson St., where he grabbed a 26-year-old woman and forced her to the ground. He molested the woman over her clothes before running off.
Both women sustained minor injuries, cops said.
No arrests have been made.
Cops searching the area recovered surveillance footage of the man. At the time the footage was taken, he was wearing glasses, a black jacket, black jeans and white sneakers.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
