Brooklyn detectives are hunting for a man they say groped a 63-year-old woman while she shopped inside a store at 6101 18 Avenue in Bensonhurst, then slipped away on foot along the avenue.
According to police, the incident happened Friday at about 2:40 p.m. Investigators say the man walked up to the woman, grabbed her over her clothing, and took off heading east on 18th Avenue. The NYPD is now asking anyone who recognizes him to come forward.
🚨WANTED FOR FORCIBLE TOUCHING: On Friday, July 3, 2026, at approximately 2:40 P.M., a 63-year-old female victim was shopping inside 6101 18 Avenue, in the confines of the 62 Precinct in Brooklyn, when an unidentified male approached and forcibly touched her buttocks over her clothing. The individual fled eastbound on 18 avenue. Tipsters may receive up to $3,500.
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) July 8, 2026
What police say
According to the NYPD Crime Stoppers alert, the unidentified man allegedly placed his hand on the woman's buttocks over her clothing while she was inside the store, then immediately ran off eastbound on 18th Avenue.
The bulletin places the case within the 62nd Precinct's jurisdiction and asks anyone who knows the man in the surveillance images to contact detectives. Crime Stoppers is directing tipsters to its phone line and anonymous online forms for anyone willing to share information.
Where it happened
The address in the alert, 6101 18 Avenue, is in Bensonhurst within the NYPD's 62nd Precinct. The NYPD 62nd Precinct lists its coverage area as Bensonhurst, Mapleton and Bath Beach and provides stationhouse contact information for residents and witnesses.
A string of 'wanted' alerts
This is far from the only recent forcible-touching case where Brooklyn cops have turned to Crime Stoppers and social media to get the word out. A recent report on a late-night F train groper highlighted a run of similar bulletins that rely heavily on bystander video and community tips.
Those notices show how quickly some investigations can move when riders or shoppers pass along footage or even small identifying details to detectives.
Legal note
Under New York law, "forcible touching" covers intentionally touching another person's sexual or intimate parts without any legitimate purpose. It is charged under Penal Law 130.52 as a Class A misdemeanor, according to Justia. Possible penalties can include jail time, probation and other consequences, depending on how prosecutors charge the case and what the facts show.
How to report
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tipsters can also submit information anonymously online.
Crime Stoppers notes that people may be eligible for up to $3,500 if their tip leads to an arrest and indictment. Anyone who captured video or photos related to the incident is urged to keep the original files and share them directly with investigators.
