A man who has been exposing himself to Moundsville residents has city police worried. They are concerned because he seems to be getting bolder - and his victims seem to be getting younger.

The Moundsville Police Department received a fifth report Tuesday about a man exposing himself to residents on city streets.

The latest incident was reported after a mother discovered it had occurred by reading her 12-year-old daughter's text messages Monday night.

According to police Sgt. Don DeWitt, the incident occurred Dec. 22 on Tomlinson Avenue near Moundsville Middle School while the girl was walking home. The first such incident took place in November.

"The first few times, it happened around dusk with adults," DeWitt said. "Lately it's been during daylight hours and around schools when school is letting out."

No new reports regarding the man's activities have been made while school has been closed for the holidays, DeWitt said, but he doesn't expect the activity to stop altogether.

"It seems to be getting worse. It's causing us quite a bit of concern," he said of law enforcement. "The fact that it's happening around schools is a great concern to us. We have checked all local registered sex offenders, and none meet this man's description."

The suspect is described as a white man in his early to mid 20s and of average height with a thin build and short brown hair.

"It's a very vague description," DeWitt acknowledged.

To date, police have no solid leads in the case. Earlier events occurred on Third and Fourth streets between Cedar and Grant avenues.

The man has been seen wearing nothing but a T-shirt and performing a lewd act in public. DeWitt said he has been observed removing his clothes outside and "usually stashes them." DeWitt asks that residents report unusual or suspicious circumstances to the police department, particularly if they should see a pile of clothes lying outside.

The police department can be reached at 304-845-1611.