Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Reader Recounts Close Encounter With Upper East Side Serial Groper Today
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jul 17, 2011
Modified Jul 17, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jul 17, 2011
Modified Jul 17, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, police released a sketch of a serial groper who they say may have attacked at least seven different women this year all on the Upper East Side. After an attack early Saturday morning on a 29-year-old woman, it seems the groper attempted to attack another woman early this morning. Heather wrote us with the story of her close encounter with the groper. Check it out below:
Facts: I am a 24-yr-old woman who was coming home late last night from a party. At approximately 3 am Sunday morning (7/17), the groper followed me home from the subway station at 77th (6 line) without my knowledge.
He made contact as I was getting off, asking for directions to 42nd street. At that time, I had no idea who he was. He was small and nonthreatening (he fits exactly the sketch and description published in the news). Acted like he baaarely spoke English. Buck-teethed with a big front gap. A baggy white polo and baseball cap. I told him to catch the downtown train, but I was not friendly by any means. He walked in the opposite direction of me, so I thought.
So I walk about 3 blocks to my walk-up on 78th between 2nd and 3rd, not thinking anything of the encounter. I live on the sixth floor, so I let myself in and then as I am climbing I start hear footsteps softly ascending behind me as I am going up. That was my first clue. I monitor the steps to see if they stop and enter an apartment. They don't -- and when I reach the sixth floor and turn around -- there he is on the landing below me. I loudly say "WHOA, WHOA -- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" and stare him down. He pauses, wide-eyed, unsure, and then just turns around and runs away. I called the cops once inside, but since I wasn't touched there could be no formal report. They were fairly helpful, though, and seem to be on the lookout. They said I responded correctly...
But LESSON LEARNED: make sure that pesky door closes all the way behind you when you enter a no-doorman apartment. I have been living in my place a long time, and 3 years on the UES, and haven't needed to be vigilant about it -- it swings closed very slowly and there's plenty of time for someone to stick a hand in and stop it.
Cops have described the suspect as a Latino male between the ages of 25 and 30 who is 4-foot-11, 120 pounds and has black hair. Anyone with information about him is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).
Tagged
attacker
groper
manhattan
police
serial groper
sketchy
ues
upper east side
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx man indicted for murder in fatal bodega shooting
Prosecutors say Jesus Acosta shot and killed Tayvon Shuler, then robbed the East 149th Street store last month.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 29, 2026 at 7:44 p.m. ET
Mamdani must redo his pied-à-terre tax rollout, NY judge orders
A Staten Island judge ruled against the city in a lawsuit challenging the rollout of the new tax, a day after a billionaire casino mogul sued to invalidate it.
By
David Brand
News
Mamdani must redo his pied-à-terre tax rollout, NY judge orders
A Staten Island judge ruled against the city in a lawsuit challenging the rollout of the new tax, a day after a billionaire casino mogul sued to invalidate it.
By
David Brand
NYC eyes higher fines for owners of dirty vacant lots, abandoned construction sites
By
Liam Quigley
NJ Gov. Sherrill vetoes 2 bills meant to give strapped Jersey City more revenue tools
By
Michael Sol Warren
Brooklyn residents displaced after facade falls off neighboring building amid nor'easter
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .