Sex crimes on the rise in the Big Apple, man wanted for sexual assault

New York City police claimed that "criminal sexual assault patterns” are on the rise in the Big Apple, as they hunt down two suspects accused of sexually motivated attacks against women. 

The NYPD released a video regarding two women who were sexually assaulted in separate incidents between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. near Central Park West and W. 82 St. 

The video shows a 23-year-old woman walking home at around 4 a.m. when an unidentified male attacker dressed in black approaches her from behind and pins her to the ground. 

After a struggle, the suspect was able to hold the victim down and digitally penetrated her genital area, according to Fox News. The suspect fled on foot and was later spotted riding an e-bike on Central Park West. 

An hour later, a man on an electric bicycle approached a 28-year-old woman walking near Avenue A and 4 Street. He dismounted the bicycle and grabbed the victim, saying that he had a knife on him. 

He proceeded to display his genitals and forced the woman to perform oral sex, police said. The individual fled eastbound on East 4 Street on the bicycle.  

NYPD searching for sexual assault suspect after 2 attacks https://t.co/IeOmDgMAZl

— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) July 17, 2022

Crime in New York City has increased by 31.1%, compared to the same period the previous year. The NYPD reported 140 rape incidents by the end of June, a 2.9% increase from the 136 rape cases reported in June of 2021. Last week alone, NYPD recorded 44 rapes. 

The NYPD also reported 97 incidents of other sex crimes last week, an increase from 95 for the same week last year.