Midtown Crimes: Peeping Tom, Thieving Pair, Sex Pest Arrest

MIDTOWN, NY — An arrest in one sex pest case in Midtown came just days after another sicko took pictures of a woman up her skirt, police said.

Eric Sanchez, 58, was arrested Sunday and charged with forcible touching and sex abuse after groping a 24-year-old woman on a 2 train in Times Square on July 12, according to police.

The Queens man is accused of grabbing the woman's buttocks and pressed his groin up against her as the downtown-bound train entered the 42 Street-Times Square station at 9:40 a.m., officials said.

Just two days before the arrest, on Friday, another sicko struck in Bryant Park, police said.

At about 6:15 p.m. on July 12, a 34-year-old woman climbing stairs at the 57 Street F train station realized a sicko behind her was taking cellphone pictures up her skirt, police said.

The man fled the station south on Sixth Avenue, officials said.

Police released an image of the suspect, about 45, wearing tan work boots, a goatee, a camouflage backpack and a green baseball cap.

A pair robbed an East Midtown smoke shop of about $600 worth of goods Thursday, according to police.

The duo threatened a 21-year-old woman working behind the counter at a shop on Third Avenue store near East 43rd Street about 11:30 a.m. police said.

The pair said they were armed, but never revealed a gun, officials said.

After the successful heist, the pair fled on an electric bicycle, police said.

Officials released an image of two people they claim are connected to the rob and described one individual as wearing blue pajama pants and black slippers, and the other person as wearing purple sweatpants and black sneakers.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

All calls are strictly confidential.