A shop keeper witnessed a man taking photos up student’s skirts.
POLICE  are hunting for a man who used a smartphone to take photos up a teenage student’s skirt at Brookvale on Wednesday afternoon and then fled when chased by a witness.

The police said it is possible the victim does not know she was photographed, so they are inquiring at local secondary schools.
Police are also investigating a report of a separate incident a few weeks ago where a man was seen trying to take photos up a woman’s skirt in the same area.

They are unsure if it was the same man who filmed the teen, thought to be about 16 or 17 years old, on Wednesday.
A local shop worker witnessed the schoolgirl being photographed and posted a warning on Facebook for women to “watch out”.

She wrote: “Just witnessed a man filming up a schoolgirl’s skirt outside my work in Brookvale so if you see a short man wearing a black hoodie with a blue logo on the back and black shorts and sneakers around the mall or Brookvale, watch out.”
“We yelled out at him and he bolted”.

Northern Beaches crime manager Insp Craig Wonders confirmed the report and said a man was seen walking east on Williams St at Brookvale, near Pittwater Rd at 5.15pm on Wednesday.

He said the witness told police the man ran up behind a girl at a bus stop, crouched down behind her, placed a mobile phone under her skirt and took photos.

The witness raced outside and shouted at the man, who ran across Pittwater Rd towards the Warringah Mall carpark, where the witness.
Police attended the scene, interviewed the witness, canvassed the area and took possession of CCTV footage.

Insp Wonders said the student, believed to be 16 or 17 years old, may not have realised she had been a victim.
“The victim did not remain at the scene, so we haven’t been able to speak to her,” he said. “Police are inquiring at schools and urging anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.”

The offender was described as being of caucasian appearance, 20-30 years old, about 172cm tall and of stocky build.

Anyone with information is should call Dee Why police station on 9971 3399 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.