Stepped Up Police Presence in Greenwood Heights

Loyal reader and commenter Snappy sent us the photo above, along with this note about it: “Since Saturday afternoon (not sure exactly what time), a police van has been parked at the corner of 5th Avenue and 18th Street in Greenwood Heights. The van is always staffed with an officer or two, and the white lights atop the van remain flashing at all times (even all night). I finally asked the officer inside this morning why they were camped out there. The response was startling. There have been an increased number of sexual assaults/attempted sexual assaults in the area and the NYPD is doing a blatant increased police presence in the area to catch the guy and let women know what’s going on. The attacker’s M.O. includes casually following a woman home, then attacking her (it wasn’t clear to me if the officer meant the assailant attacks the woman in her home or not – I was so freaked out I forgot to ask). Police advise women to walk with their cellphones handy and call 911 even if you aren’t 100% sure the man is following you. All police in the area have been alerted that any such 911 call is to receive an immediate response. The officer further advised that if a woman must be out in the area late at night, she should remain on the main avenues and avoid side streets whenever possible.” According to a NY1 story, the attacker has struck in Sunset Park and Park Slope as well.