Police Search For Attempted Groper Around UC Irvine Campus

IRVINE (CBSLA.com) — Police are searching for a man who has been trying to grope women just off the campus of UC Irvine.

Campus police sent out an alert late Thursday that said a man in his sixties, wearing a suit, offered a female student a ride to the Santa Ana train station when she missed her connection.

Afraid that she would miss her train, she accepted his offer.

"He took her up to the Santa Ana station and while parked in the parking lot there, he asked if he could inappropriately touch our female student," said UCI Police Chief Paul Henisey.

The police chief said the victim said no, but the suspect asked again.

"At that point in time, she felt it would be appropriate to escape. She got out of the car and left and then notified us after that," he said.

Henisey said while the man's behavior was disturbing, it didn't rise to the level of a crime.

What has concerned officers, however, is that a handful of other female students have recently reported that a man with the same description approached them near campus and tried to lure them with strange questions.

"(He says), 'How can I help you?' 'Are you new to America?' Things like that to engage in conversation," said Henisey.

Police now have a warning for students.

"Be careful and aware of your surroundings, and if you see somebody who is following you or is suspicious, contact 911," said Henisey.

The suspect is described as white, 60 to 65 years old, with curly, grey hair, age spots and wrinkles. He was wearing glasses and a grey business suit.

He was last seen driving a light brown or gold-colored Lexus.