The serial groper is back. A serial groper — who has attacked 15 women and now a 16th and 17th victim Wednesday — has struck again, according to Lucy Caldwell, spokeswoman for the Fairfax County Police Department. The last incident was Jan. 3 in Annandale and police say the suspect struck again Wednesday.

The suspect groped two women within 20 minutes of each other on Wednesday afternoon, Caldwell said. "We're investigating two assaults that took place at 3:10 and 3:35 p.m. Wednesday." She said it's unknown whether they are linked but are likely the 16th and 17th assaults in the series of attacks.

In the first incident Wednesday, a 30-year old victim, a woman, was walking south on Dinwiddie Street near Dana Avenue, and was approached from behind and groped. 

The suspect fits the description, Hispanic around 5'6", Caldwell said.

The next incident took place a few blocks away, on Backlick Road near the intersection of Cabin John Road. A 25-year old woman was walking south on Backlick Road underneath the I-495 underpass when she was grabbed from behind. She yelled and he fled.

Officers are on patrol in the area as well as undercover, Caldwell said.

The attacks are described as a man running up from behind and grabbing women inappropriately. They have occurred mainly in the Springfield area. The last reported incident took place Thursday, Jan. 3 and involved a 30-year-old woman who was jogging in the 3300 block of Briarwood Court when a man grabbed her. She screamed and the man ran away. The suspect is described as either a white or Hispanic male, between the ages of 25 and 30 and about 5'7".

At the time of the incident, the suspect was wearing a green jacket, dark pants and dark shoes. 

The incidents have largely been reported in residential areas of Springfield and police believe the incidents are connected and committed by the same suspect.

The victims have varied in age, ranging from 16 to 49-years-old; the times of the reported attacks have also varied. Each victim has described their attacker as a Hispanic male in his 20s to 30s, ranging in height from 5-feet-6 inches to 6-feet-tall.

The dates and locations of the groping incidents are:

1. Sept. 7 at approximately 8:30 a.m. around the 7200 block of Monticello Boulevard
2. Sept. 9  or Sept. 13 at approximately 7:30 p.m. around Cumberland Drive and Dinwiddie Street
3. Sept. 18 at approximately 2:45 p.m. around the 6700 block of Metropolitan Center Drive
4. Sept. 19 around Hibbling Avenue and Exmore Street
5. Sept. 27 at approximately 9 a.m. around the 5900 block of Erving Street
6. Oct. 2 at approximately 7:15 p.m. around the Hibbling Avenue and Exmore Street
7. Oct. 25 at approximately 9:30 a.m. around Lake Pleasant Drive and Edinburgh Drive
8. Nov. 1 at approximately 4 p.m. around the 7200 block of Commerce Street
9. Nov. 1 at approximately 4:30 p.m. around the 6000 block of Hibbling Avenue
10. Nov. 19 at approximately 6 p.m. around the 7200 block of Commerce Street
11. Nov. 21 at approximately 1:20 p.m. around Amherst Avenue and Cumberland Avenue
12. Dec. 11 at approximately 10:28 a.m. around the Blarney Stone Drive near Omega Court
13. Dec. 13 at approximately 9 a.m. on Floyd Avenue and Erving Street
14. Dec. 13 at approximately 5:45 p.m. around the 6000 block of Hibbling Avenue
15. Jan. 3, at approximately 5:45 p.m. around Patriot Court and Briarwood Court
16. Jan. 30, at approximately 3:10 p.m. Dinwiddie Street near Dana Avenue
17. Jan. 30, at approximately 3:35 p.m. Backlick Road and Cabin John Road/I-495 underpass

See also:

Springfield Residents On Alert After Serial Groper's 14th Incident

Police Receive 14th Report in Series of Sexual Assaults

Police: Possible 13th Victim Attacked by Serial Groper