High School Girls Grabbed In Anaheim, Cops Say

ANAHEIM, CA — The early morning walk to Savanna High School is giving students and parents pause following a series of sexual battery type attacks, police said.

On Monday a teenage girl walking to school was "grabbed in a sexual way," authorities told Patch. This attack is just the latest in a series of incidents that began one week ago. On Tuesday, a sketch was released in hopes that the public can help located the suspect.

All of the encounters have all taken place near the school on the 300 block of N. Gilbert St., said Anaheim police Sgt. Jeff Mundy, the latest on the 2800 block of West Lincoln Avenue.

"In each of the incidents, the suspect surprised the victims by approaching from behind" and groping the girls buttocks and breasts, police said.

Each sexual battery attack has happened early in the morning, "between 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.," according to Mundy, and detectives are actively pursuing other incidents in the area to determine whether or not they are related to the attacks.

The suspect has been approaching the girls from behind, grabbing them "in a sexual way" and then fleeing the scene, he said.

The suspect is described as an unshaven Latino man who is in his 20s or 30s who is 5 feet, 3 inches to 5 feet, 6 inches tall and has a thin build and short hair.

An officer is present on school grounds, and there is an increased police presence both in the early morning hours, and all day long, Mundy assured Patch.

Anyone who has information helpful to investigators was asked to call police at (714) 765-1900. Orange County Crime Stoppers will accept anonymous tips at (855) TIP-OCCS.

The Anaheim Police Department is collaborating with the Anaheim Union High School District to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. Police are reminding students and parents to be aware of their surroundings when walking to and from school, and to report suspicious people immediately by calling 9-1-1.

Patch has reached out to the Anaheim Union High School District to determine how students and families are being kept safe from the sexual predator and will update this report when that information is received.

Anaheim Police Department sketch image.