The incident, under investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department's Special Victims Unit, was captured on home surveillance video. Footage shows a man following an unsuspecting woman, approaching her, grabbing her and then walking away on Wednesday.
Jamie LaPierre-Valentine, whose camera recorded the video, said the woman came to her home immediately afterward.
"She was upset. She was concerned. She was confused," LaPierre-Valentine said.
Neighbors say the timing of the assault is particularly troubling. It happened around 12:45 p.m. on the 2600 block of Collins Street, when families and children are often outside.
"I would say that guy got lucky that day because normally most people are out. People would have intervened and said something or chased him off," said neighbor Mike Fritz.
Police described the suspect as between 30 and 40 years old, dressed in all black, wearing a fur-lined hooded coat and a crossbody bag. It's unclear whether there may be any other victims.
"I'd be careful who he does it to, because he might become a statistic instead of being lucky enough to keep walking around," LaPierre-Valentine said. "For her, I hope something comes of this because nobody should be treated like this."
Neighbors said the incident has left them on edge, prompting them to check on one another and be more cautious.
"Our street is historically a quiet street; there's a ton of kids on this street. It's a tight community, so to hear it happened here, especially during the time that it did, it's pretty shocking. We've been here since 2019, and nothing like this has ever happened here," Fritz said. "I'm hoping it's an isolated incident and that never happens around here again."
Police are urging anyone with information about the suspect's identity or whereabouts to contact the Special Victims Unit.