Police are searching for a suspect believed to be involved in four sexual assaults in Newmarket.
The suspect appears to be targeting small-statured, thin women who are distracted by their cellphones or listening to music through headphones, York Regional Police said in a statement on Friday.
Officers believe the same man is connected to four assaults that happened in August and September.
The first occurred near the Upper Canada Mall parking lot, on Aug. 18 at approximately 5 p.m. Police said a 19-year-old was walking along a pathway near the north fence, and passed a man near Gail Parks Crescent.
The man turned around, ran up behind the victim and grabbed her buttocks, investigators said. He then fled eastbound and jumped over the fence into the mall parking lot.
Two incidents occurred on Sept. 8 in the same area. Police said a 34-year-old was walking along a sidewalk in the mall parking lot, typing a text message on her phone, at approximately 7:30 a.m. A man came up behind her, grabbed her buttocks and fled, officers said.
Later that day, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a 17-year-old was walking north from the mall, in a subdivision on Gail Parks Crescent. Police said a man in a hooded sweatshirt approached her, grabbed her buttocks then ran away.
Last Friday, Sept. 25, an 18-year-old was approached by a man at approximately 9:25 a.m. The victim was walking along Aspenwood Drive, when she was pushed to the ground. The man then tried to remove her clothing, but was stopped by a passerby, police said. He then ran away.
The man has been described as white, and between the ages of 20 and 25. He is approximately 5-foot-5 with a thin build.
York Regional Police warned the public to use "extra caution" and be aware of their surroundings.
"If you observe someone acting suspiciously, trust your instincts, move to a safe location and seek help," police said in the statement.
Anyone with more information is asked to contact investigators at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7071, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
