Cops ‘hunting coast flashers’

Erin Pearson
AN OUTBREAK of flashers on the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula has alarmed police.
Officers from Torquay and Ocean Grove reported multiple incidents of men flashing beachgoers since mid-December.
Torquay Police Acting Senior Sergeant Adrian Bickley said officers were particularly concerned about a man who masturbated in front of women at the town’s Whites Beach last Friday.
Police feared the man could become violent, Acting Snr Sgt Bickley said.
“At this stage we haven’t made any arrests but it’s a high priority and we want to catch this person. We don’t want this person’s behaviour to escalate so we want to nab them ASAP.”
Acting Snr Sgt Bickley said the Torquay station had assembled a special taskforce of plain-clothes officers to hunt the man and other alleged flashers.
“If somebody does see or hear something that’s strange please phone 000 immediately so we can get our members down there ASAP.
“We also have to take into account that maybe the person or persons involved are local and therefore more comfortable at the beaches down here.”
Geelong Sexual Offences Unit’s Dale Menzies said beachgoers had reported nine incidents of obscene exposure at Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads beaches since December 23.
“These nine cases haven’t presented any threats of physical violence but we’re still very concerned by the behaviour,” Detective Senior Constable Menzies said.
“Out of the nine incidents six have been down at the western end of 13th Beach and we believe the same male is responsible.
“The other three were closer to Raffs Beach in Ocean Grove and The Bluff at Barwon Heads. We believe they’re different males.”
Police described the man involved in the six 13th Beach incidents as in his mid-20s, tanned with a solid build and short, dark hair.
The offender approached his victims on foot, exposed himself and ran off toward Black Rock.
Det Snr Const Menzies urged anyone with information to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.