In the middle of a Kensington afternoon, a woman walking along Collins Street was followed, grabbed and groped, then left to run for help while her attacker bolted. Now Philadelphia police are asking neighbors citywide to help them put a name to the man caught in the grainy but chilling security footage.
Surveillance footage and neighbors' accounts
Surveillance footage obtained by NBC10 Philadelphia shows a man in dark clothing and a black jacket tailing the woman for roughly 15 seconds shortly before 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The video then captures him lunging in from behind, groping her and sprinting away.
Police say the victim, who had been visiting someone on the block, is cooperating with detectives as they try to sharpen the description of the suspect. Neighbors interviewed on camera described the man as “a sick person” and pointed to one detail that stuck with them: he appeared to be wearing two different kinds of shoes, something investigators hope will jog someone’s memory. The homeowner whose cameras recorded the attack told the station the victim came straight to her door afterward and that she later turned the footage over to police.
Police ask for tips
Detectives are canvassing the surrounding blocks for more video and potential witnesses while working with the woman to refine what she remembers about the attacker. Anyone with information or additional footage can submit a tip online, email [email protected], or call or text the department tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477), according to the City of Philadelphia.
Why this matters in Kensington
Kensington has long struggled with open-air drug markets and broader public safety concerns, even as the city has poured resources into a “wellness ecosystem” that combines treatment and enforcement and that officials credit with helping to reduce overdose deaths, according to Billy Penn. Neighbors and community groups say brazen daytime assaults that wind up on security cameras only heighten neighborhood anxiety and fuel calls for better lighting, more cameras and more visible foot patrols.
Police are urging anyone who recognizes the man in the footage or has relevant video from the area not to confront him directly. Instead, they say to call 911 immediately or submit an anonymous tip to Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Investigators plan to review any new footage and pursue all credible leads as the case moves forward.
