Temple Police Issue Warning After Reports Of Man On Scooter Touching Women Inappropriately
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Temple University police are stepping up patrols after reports of multiple assaults involving a man on a scooter inappropriately touching women. Temple University Police issued a warning Tuesday night about the incidents and the man involved.
Temple police are actively investigating the incidents and are coordinating with the Philadelphia Special Victims Unit to get to the bottom of these assaults.
Investigators say the suspect's MO is to ride past his victims, then touch their private body parts over their clothing.
"I think it's gross," Temple student Luke Cordrey said.
The assaults happened on Sept. 21st and Sept. 22nd and the most recent was this past Monday, Oct. 18. All of them occurred along Polett Walk between 15th and 16th Streets in the evening.
Olivia Rakairo is now anxious about using that route.
"My apartment was on the way, so I always go that way and sometimes later at night," Rakairo said. "So, when I saw that, it definitely made me more nervous."
Detectives from Temple have pulled surveillance video. That has not yet been released to Eyewitness News.
The suspect is being described by police as a Black man between 20 to 30 years old, wearing dark clothing and a mask. Officials believe the suspect's electric scooter, coupled with over-the-calf boots that he wore in each of the attacks, will help officers and the public identify him.
"It's a shame. It's sad and scary," Temple student Steve Callahan said.
"It's very unsettling definitely, but it is definitely something when I came to Temple, I knew it was something I had to look out for," Abby Ruane, another Temple student, said.
As the investigation continues, police are urging people in the area to be aware of their surroundings, travel with friends, walk on a well-lit, regularly traveled street or pathway and watch your back. Make sure you're not being followed, and if you are, cross the street. If someone starts pursuing you, do whatever it takes to draw attention to yourself.
"I just make sure my friends are OK," Cordrey said. "I wouldn't let any of my girl friends walk home alone anyway beforehand, and definitely won't do that now."
Police also urged students to use the university escort service.
The police sent the following letter to students:
We want to make the campus community aware of incidents involving a male inappropriately touching women while riding on a scooter. The incidents occurred on September 21st and 22nd and another on October 18th. These occurred along 15th and 16th Streets in the evening.
The male was described as African American 20-30 years of age, wearing dark clothing, mask, and boots, riding an electric scooter.
In light of these incidents, we want to remind everyone to:
Use Walking escorts—security officers on bicycle accompany students who are walking—can be provided by calling 8-WALK from a campus phone or 215-777-WALK (9255) from a cell phone. Walking escorts are available from 4 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week.
Please be aware of your surroundings while walking. If possible, travel with friends and walk in well-lit, regularly traveled streets or pathways. Look around to make sure that you are not being followed. If you think you are being followed, cross the street. If you are being pursued, do anything that might summon assistance.
If at any time you have concerns about your safety, do not hesitate to call 911 or Temple Police at 215-204-1234 (1-1234 from a campus phone).
Anyone with safety concerns can call 215-204-1234.
CBS3's Alecia Reid contributed to this report.
