Police hunt for alleged Melbourne Tram groper

A MAN suspected of groping at least four women on Melbourne trams in 12 months has had his image released publicly.

A MAN suspected of groping at least four women on Melbourne trams in 12 months has had his image released publicly.

In each incident between April 2016 and April 2017, the man in his 40s or 50s inappropriately touched the women on trams in and around the CBD before moving on, police said.

An image taken by one of the victims, of a man thought to be the attacker, was released by police on Monday.

A woman who was groped on a packed Melbourne tram says the man is a serial offender after five other women came forward to report similar attacks.

India Rose’s decision to photograph a man she suspected of groping her has led to other women come coming forward to tell of their own unwelcome encounters with the man.

After the initial offence Ms Rose came across the man again in Coburg three weeks ago and “instantly recognised him”.

Two months earlier she was on a tram in the city when she felt her handbag move and a hand grabbing her buttock.

“I thought it might have been an accident ... and then it happened again and he kept moving my bag out of the way and grabbing my arse,” she told AAP on Monday. When she confronted him about the incident, the man, in his 40s or 50s, denied it.

Not giving up, Ms Rose posted the photo on social media and took it to the police, prompting five other women to come forward.

Victoria Police are searching for this man.

“The police were saying that he was hanging around a tram stop near a high school and targeting younger girls, which I think is just f***ing sick,” she says.

Police say the sexual assaults occurred between April 2016 and April 2017 on tram routes 1, 96 and 109 in and around the CBD.

In each incident, the groper inappropriately touched his victim before leaving. Police have released the image Ms Rose took in the hope of identifying the man.

Transit Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating four assaults reported over a 12 month period:

• Route 109 tram on Collins Street shortly after 5.30pm on April 16, 2016;

• Route 96 tram on Bourke Street, near Russell Street, shortly after 1.35pm on August 16, 2016;

• Route 1 tram on Swanston Street, near Little Bourke Street, shortly after 8.50pm on March 16, 2017;

• Route 96 tram on Nicholson Street, near Parliament Railway Station, 5.45pm on April 26, 2017.

The man is perceived to be of caucasian appearance and at least 180cm tall with a medium build, grey curly hair and glasses.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au