Facing a Forcible Touching Plague?
On the subway, on the street, men keep grabbing women, then running away.
| 19 Dec 2025 | 03:47
Wanted for Forcible Touching. Left: On a 6 train, Dec. 5. Right: In Washington Heights, Dec. 16. (
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The plague of men sexually assaulting women and girls continues. In its lower form, the crime is called Forcible Touching, and it’s usually perpetrated in a hit-and-run fashion. Neither females on a crowded Midtown subway nor on the quiet side streets of Washington Heights are safe. Details on two incidents are as follows.
Teen Groped on the 6 Train at Grand Central
The New York City Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual wanted in connection with a forcible touching incident that occurred within the confines of the 17th Precinct / Transit District 4.
It was reported to police that on Friday, Dec. 5, at approximately 5:15 a.m. a 15-year-old female victim was aboard a northbound 6 train at the 42nd Street/Grand Central subway station when an unidentified individual approached her.
The unidentified individual rubbed her upper inner thigh and private area over her clothing. The unidentified individual then fled the subway station on foot to parts unknown. There were no reported injuries as a result of this incident.
The sought individual is described as a male with a medium complexion and indeterminate ethnicity. He was last seen wearing a black hat, black hooded jacket, black pants, and black sneakers.
Woman Grabbed from Behind in Washington Heights
Cops are also asking for help in identifying the individual wanted in connection with a forcible touching incident that occurred within the confines of the 34th Precinct.
It was reported to police that on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at approximately 5:55 p.m., in the vicinity of Wadsworth Terrace and Fairview Avenue, a 20-year-old female victim was approached from behind by an unidentified individual who grabbed her buttocks and fled the location on foot. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident.
For those unfamiliar with the geography of this region, this address is among the most interesting in all of Washington Heights. Like the zigzag streets of Hamilton Heights east of Broadway, the streets here west of Broadway are steep and off-grid. The large apartment buildings perched on the hillside here are among the most striking in all Manhattan.
The suspect is described as a male with medium complexion, likely in his 20s, wearing blue pants with silver reflective tape, a blue hooded winter coat, and silver durag or skully cap.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.