Police patrol buses in Doncaster East for Operation Report It following alleged sexual assault at Blackburn Rd bus stop

Transit police are boarding buses and handing out flyers as they try to track down a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a female commuter and exposed himself at a bus stop in Doncaster East.

Police are patrolling buses to and from Westfield Doncaster as part of Operation Report It. Picture: Ellen Smith.

Police are patrolling buses in Melbourne’s east as they try to find a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a female commuter in broad daylight.

Transit police detectives have begun boarding services between Blackburn Rd and Westfield Doncaster following the January 27 incident in Doncaster East.

The investigation is part of Operation Report It, which was launched last year and encourages people to call out crime on public transport.

Officers have been told a the 23-year-old woman was approached by an unknown man who sat down next to her at a bus stop on Blackburn Rd near Maggs St at 8.55am.

The incident is believed to have taken place at a bus stop on Blackburn Rd, right near Maggs St. Picture: Google Street View.

She stood up and was followed by the man, who allegedly sexually assaulted her and exposed himself, then walked off along Maggs St.

Transit police eastern division Senior Sergeant Michele Clooney said officers were patrolling buses and handing out flyers from the vicinity of the alleged incident to the Westfield Doncaster bus terminal.

Sen-Sgt Clooney said the operation was about “taking a proactive stance against sexual offences and showing offenders that we absolutely will not tolerate it”.

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“Too many sexual offences unfortunately go unreported on the public transport network, often for a range of reasons, but we need the community to understand that any unwanted sexual behaviour is a crime and will be taken seriously by police,” he said.

Police have released an image of a man they wish to speak to about the incident.

Police wish to speak to this man followed an alleged sexual assault at a bus stop in Doncaster East. Picture: Victoria Police.

He is described as Middle Eastern in appearance, is 165cm-175cm with a medium build, brown beard and moustache.

The man was wearing a light-coloured hoodie with a black rectangular logo in the centre, blue navy shorts with paint or plaster marks, and dark work boots with no laces.

Anyone who recognises the man or has information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

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