A woman who was at the beach on Friday said she was thinking about taking a last swim before winter when she noticed a man in her peripheral vision about 10m away.
“It’s a fully naked, white male, probably in his 40s-50s. I took one brief look at him and initially just thought he was skinny dipping and thought ‘weird but ok’,” she posted on Facebook.
“Then I looked again and realised he was grinning at me and touching himself right next to me.”
She was stunned and didn't know what to do or think.
“He kept touching himself while looking at me, and I anxiously just stared at my phone for a few seconds trying not to look at him, then walked quickly toward the dunes.
“When I looked back he was gone.” They were the only people on the beach at the time, the woman said.
She reported the incident to police and went online to warn others.
“If I had to guess, this kind of behaviour probably happens more during the cooler months when the beaches are quieter and there’s less people around,” she posted.
Police told The Star there were “no lines of inquiry” available to follow up the woman’s report.
Community patrols visit the area routinely as part of their patrols. Police encouraged anyone who sees someone behaving oddly or indecently to call 111.
The Star went to the beach to investigate on Monday and soon after arriving spotted a naked man near the sand dunes. When he saw the reporter, with a camera, he headed off.
A Spencerville woman walking with a friend on the beach told The Star she was concerned.
"Some of them are very discreet about it. The worst is the guys that are out on the beach, fully exposed, they are wanting people to walk past and see them.
“I don't feel safe here whatsoever. I wouldn't even really walk on my own, unless I have somebody with me.”
She used to regularly swim at the beach by herself but stopped after being “harassed” and experiencing lewd behaviour over the years.
“One time I was accosted by a group of Asian guys. They saw me and wanted me to go into the sand dunes with them.
“I pretty much scarpered after that, so I don't go there now.
“I'm sure it’s not just me. It’s been like that for a very, very long time.”
Spencer Park Beach is well-known for nude sunbathing and swimming north of the Heyders Rd car park.
Nudist groups also have organised days out there and will put out flags to alert beachgoers.
