Police Warn Women Of Royal Oak Groper

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - Police in Royal Oak are looking for a man who has been attacking women walking home from the city's downtown bars and clubs in the early morning hours. 

Lt. Gordon Young  tells WWJ the latest incident involved a 24-year-old woman walking nearly Gardenia and Wilson streets around 1:30 a.m., earlier this month.

"The suspect placed one hand over her mouth and another hand onto her belt area. The victim fought off her attacker, and she managed to break free, and then once she broke free she ran to her house and called the police," Young said.

This was the fifth such attack since 2008.

"We don't know the full intent, because these women have been able to fight off the attacker.... Groping is part of his crime and it's a sexual nature, groping," Young said.

Young advises young women to be aware of their surroundings, stay off their cellphones and walk with a confident, arm-swinging stride to avoid becoming a victim.

The suspect has been described as a 5'8'' tall Asian male, in his early 20's, with short dark hair. 

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Royal Oak Police.