Vancouver police are warning the public to watch out for a man in his 50s who allegedly groped and followed two young women on the city’s public transit system in separate incidents Wednesday.

Just after 11 a.m. on Feb. 22, the man got on a bus in Kerrisdale heading east down West 41 Avenue shortly after a 20-year-old woman boarded the bus. He sat down beside the woman and then allegedly began groping her leg and genitals, according to police. The startled woman jumped off the bus and boarded the SkyTrain downtown, but the man followed her onto the train and allegedly chased her a short distance as she got off at Stadium Station.

Police say the woman got help from security personnel at Stadium Station who then contacted Transit police.

“It’s not uncommon for a young victim to be startled and unsure of how to get help,” said Vancouver police spokeswoman Const. Jana McGuinness of the prolonged interaction between the woman and the suspect. “The important message is to make sure people call as soon as they can so we have the best opportunity to find the suspect.

Just four hours later at 3:30 p.m., the man — described as a heavy-set Caucasian – allegedly groped a teenage girl on the Millennium SkyTrain line between New Westminster Lougheed stations. The man allegedly sat down next to the teen and began rubbing her thigh repeatedly. As the train entered the next station, she exited the train looking for help as the man got away in another SkyTrain car.

Police say the suspect has a salt-and-pepper coloured goatee, short dark hair, was wearing tan pants, a beige button-up shirt, dark vest and dark jacket.

“With the media attention today, we’re hoping we can get an identification and further the investigation as soon as possible,” McGuinness said.

Transit police are investigating the incident along with the VPD’s sex crimes unit.

Police are asking anyone with information to call them at 604-717-0600 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

mhager@postmedia.com

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