Police are searching for the man they say chatted with a young girl before grabbing her privates and running away.
The 8-year-old girl was in a building courtyard near Essex and Broome streets on the Lower East Side Saturday evening when the man approached her.
The man started a conversation with the girl before grabbing her genitals over her clothing, police said.
After groping the girl, the man took off on foot. Police released a video of a suspect, who they believe is in his 30s.
Police are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest. Signs are posted all around the neighborhood.
The girl was not physically injured.