38-year-old man exposed himself to children in Espoo – police seek witnesses
West Uusimaa police suspect a 38-year-old man of multiple sexual assaults against children in Espoo in September. The man has been remanded in custody and police are requesting information from Sello Prisma and Iso Omena.
Espoo man remanded in custody – suspected of indecent exposure to children
West Uusimaa police suspect a 38-year-old man of multiple sexual assaults against children in Espoo, according to iltalehti.fi. The man is suspected of exposing his genitals to children in several different locations during September.
The man was arrested over the weekend, and West Uusimaa district court remanded him in custody earlier this week. According to the remand information, the crimes took place in September – one incident in Helsinki, the others in Espoo.
Police have surveillance camera recordings of the incidents. The investigating officer, Detective Inspector Maria Hietajärvi, urges guardians to talk with their children in a statement.
"We ask that guardians discuss at home with their own child or young person whether children have been in the aforementioned places at the mentioned times. You can discuss with children whether anything happened in these situations that would be worth mentioning to an adult, or whether any adult behaved strangely near them," Hietajärvi says.
Police describe the suspect as a dark-haired and bald man with a black beard. At the time of the incidents, he was wearing a light blue shirt or a light, loose knit sweater, and a short greenish light padded jacket.
Police seek witnesses from the following incidents:
- Sello shopping centre Prisma toy section 23.9.2026 at approximately 16.30–16.40. Present were three or four children estimated to be of primary school age, boys and girls, and an adult woman.
- Iso Omena shopping centre evening of 25.9.2026. Present were two light-haired girls estimated to be of secondary school age.
- Sello shopping centre XS-Lelu toy shop 23.–25.9.2026, where a man matching the description has been seen.
Police have already identified several victims. Efforts are now underway to establish the identity of all other children whom the man approached or in whose vicinity he touched his genitals.
Information can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by calling the tip line 0295 438 488.
Source: Google News FI — Crime (fi)