Search for perv on peddles

As if women in New York City don’t have enough to worry about, they now have to be on the lookout for bicycles.
Police in Queens are searching for a serial groper who has been sexually assaulting women in Astoria. The predator, who approaches his victims on a bike, has reportedly assaulted over a dozen women by grabbing them in sensitive areas, usually in broad daylight.
“I was walking on 28th Avenue between 44th and 45th streets on the sidewalk during the day, and I felt someone coming up behind me,” said Michelle Gutmann, a victim of the pervert. “I turned to look and I saw a guy right behind me on a bike, and he slapped my butt and rode away. I stood there in shock for about a minute.”
Gutmann wrote about the incident on Facebook, and through responses to her post, she discovered that other women had been attacked in similar circumstances. Along with one of her friends, whose breast was grabbed by a man on a bike on 31st Street and 30th Avenue, Gutmann described her experience on whyleaveastoria.com, a blog for Astoria residents. An outpouring of posts followed, mostly from women who had also been groped.
Gutmann and her friend, who preferred to remain nameless, described their attacker as a 5-foot-10, Hispanic male with spiky, dark brown hair between the ages of 26 and 34. Based on posts from other women, Gutmann believes there are at least two men sexually assaulting women from bicycles in the Astoria area.
“The police have really stepped up their surveillance,” said Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., who learned about the attacks through the blog posts. “We have some leads and I bet we will soon catch this perv. I assure you that if he does it in my presence it will be the last time it ever happens.”
Vallone said that the 114th Precinct is working closely with the Special Victims Unit to examine video surveillance and speak with store owners in the area.
The councilmember hopes a sketch will soon be available, and urges any victims who have not stepped forward to call his office or the police. According to Vallone, as many as 15 women have reported being molested thus far.
“It concerns me very much,” said Anne Marie Culhane, an Astoria resident. “I have a 17-year-old daughter that walks around the neighborhood, so I’m scared for her more than myself. I told her she’s not allowed to walk around alone and if she sees anyone on a bike to go the other way. It’s scary because this guy can do it and you can’t stop him if he’s on a bike and you’re on foot.”