PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In what is potentially another example of a growing and disturbing trend called “gooning,” police in Delaware County said they are searching for a man who exposed himself to customers at a Dollar Tree on Baltimore Pike last week.
Springfield Township police said they have a warrant for 30-year-old Jhet Larose, of Brookhaven. Larose is accused of exposing himself at the Dollar Tree in the Stoney Creek Shopping Center on Baltimore Pike on Aug. 5.
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While Springfield Township police have not positively identified a motive in their investigation, a similar investigation is underway in Bucks County.
Police in Falls Township said a man exposed himself to an 18-year-old while she shopped at the Dollar Tree in Morrisville. The man — who investigators identified as 30-year-old Anthony Oates, of Trenton — is also suspected to have done the same thing at a Michaels in neighboring Middletown Township.
Authorities say it’s part of an online trend called “gooning,” which has been in the dark corners of the web for about a decade. As part of the trend, men record themselves targeting unsuspecting women, often at Dollar Tree stores across the country, then post the video online.
Police said anyone who becomes a victim of gooning should not respond to or confront the person; instead, they should get away, if possible, notify store employees, and call 911 to report it.
Police see rise in ‘gooning,’ an online trend encouraging public lewd acts
Police see rise in ‘gooning,’ an online trend encouraging public lewd acts
