York Regional Police have released surveillance footage showing a man grabbing a woman's buttocks in broad daylight.

The suspect is wanted in connection for five sexual assaults in the Newmarket area that authorities say may be linked.

The video captures a man following a woman in a parking lot on Sept. 8. The suspect sees an opportunity when the victim stops. That's when he touches her buttocks and quickly bolts away.

There have been five similar attacks dating back to Aug. 18. The most recent attack occurred on Oct. 13. The first three instances took place in the Upper Canada Mall parking lot.

In all of the cases, the suspect fled the scene on foot. Four out of five attacks involved the man touching the victim's buttocks and running away.

But in one instance, the man allegedly pushed an 18-year-old woman to the ground and attempted to remove her clothes before being interrupted by a passerby.



Police have put together a description that identifies the suspect as a white man in his early to mid 20s, standing approximately five-foot-five, weighing between 125 to 130 pounds with a thin build. Authorities say he wears a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up. He also wears pants, even on hot days, according to police.



Investigators say the suspect is targeting small, thin females, who are often distracted by their phone when attacked.



On Tuesday, police issued a news release warning women to walk in pairs to avoid being attacked by the suspected sexual predator.



Anyone with information related to this matter is urged to contact authorities at 1-866-876-5423, extension 7071, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.