The incident happened around 7:15 p.m. Monday on Pettit Avenue in Merrick.
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Authorities say the twins, both 9, encountered a male white subject at two different times while traveling to and from their home to their grandmother's house on Webster Street.
The first victim was riding her bicycle to her grandmother's when she observed the man sitting on a bicycle on the corner of Pettit Avenue and Webster Street intentionally exposing himself to her, according to detectives.
The victim turned around and went home to tell her parents.
"We immediately called police," said the victims' father, who didn't want to be identified. "We immediately went out looking for the person."
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Approximately two minutes later, the second victim, while riding to her home from her grandmother's, also observed the same man.
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As she attempted to ride her bicycle passed him, police say he lunged at her, grabbing her shoulders, and attempted to pull her pants down.
"My daughter came in, said the man outside just took his pants off and was playing with his thing," the girls' father said. "And we are sitting by the stoop, so right away, and then my other daughter came around crying hysterically and said that he tried touching her."
The victim screamed and was able to get away before riding home to tell her parents. The man fled the scene.
"He touched my one daughter on the shoulder and then grabbed the back of her pant leg," the girls' mother said. "And my daughter cried and ran and said, 'Get away from me. I'm going to call the cops.'"
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He was described as being in his 20s, with brown hair. He was wearing a black shirt, red pants, black sneakers and a paper mask covering his mouth.
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His bicycle was described as being black in color with a white stripe and was possibly motorized. He was last seen heading westbound on Webster Street.
Detectives were canvassing the neighborhood, and the family says neighbors have been trying to help.
As for their daughters, who were so close to home when he approached, they'll stay even closer for now.
Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
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