A 55-year-old woman was approached and sexually assaulted last Wednesday afternoon in front of 348 Bay Street in Staten Island's 120th Precinct, and police say they are still searching for the attacker. The assault happened at about 2:43 p.m., when an unidentified person allegedly touched the woman’s chest and groin over her clothing, then ran off. Investigators say the suspect’s identity remains unknown and are asking neighbors to check their phones and doorbell cameras for any footage from the area.
NYPD Crime Stoppers circulated an alert in a Facebook post on June 10 that includes still images and a brief timeline of the encounter. According to a Facebook post by NYPD Crime Stoppers, anyone with information should call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or the Spanish line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The post also directs people to the department’s online tip portal for anonymous submissions.
What Investigators Say
Details in the bulletin are limited and police have not announced any arrests. Detectives typically lean on surveillance footage and neighbor-shot video to piece together incidents like this, and precinct officials have pushed in recent years for more street cameras on the North Shore. The 120th Precinct received funding last year for Argus-style cameras to boost monitoring in the area, a project reported by Staten Islander.
How To Help
Anyone who recognizes the person pictured in the Crime Stoppers bulletin or who has video from the Bay Street area is urged to contact investigators. Tips can be phoned in to 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or the Spanish-language line at 1-888-57-PISTA (74782), submitted online via the Crime Stoppers portal, or sent through the NYPD’s tip account on X at @NYPDTips, the bulletin says. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.
Why Neighbors Should Pay Attention
Older residents on Staten Island have been singled out in several recent precinct advisories, and police say quick tip-sharing and preserved video have been decisive in making arrests. Hoodline previously covered similar warnings this spring in a piece on jewelry hustlers prey on seniors, underscoring how small, street-level encounters can hint at wider patterns. Investigators are asking anyone with even minor information to come forward so detectives can connect dots and help protect vulnerable residents.
