Police Seek Suspected Molester of 3

Police are looking for a man believed to have molested three girls in the same neighborhood since May.

A man riding a bicycle approached a 17-year-old girl Saturday morning while she was standing in her driveway on the 2500 block of Holly Lane and asked her for directions. He then fondled her and made a lewd comment before pedaling away.

Police said the same man may have been involved in two similar incidents within a one-mile radius.

On May 8, a man rode up to an 11-year-old girl who was also riding a bike in the 1500 block of Dover Drive, asked her for directions and touched her while making a lewd comment.

On July 19, a man approached a 13-year-old girl standing on a driveway in the 1800 block of Santiago Lane, asked her for directions and then tried to pull off her swimming suit top.

The man rode away after each incident and none of the victims were injured.

Sgt. Andy Gonis of the Newport Beach Police Department described the case as very unusual.

“We just don’t have men riding on bicycles doing that kind of thing around here,” he said.

The police are circulating a sketch of the man, who they believe lives or works in the area.

He is described as white, 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build and short, dark blond to light brown, wavy hair. He was wearing walking shorts and a casual shirt. His bicycle was described as a yellow or blue mountain bike.

Police ask that anyone with information call (800) 550-NBPD.