Torrance police say the man entered a store at the mall on Feb. 21 around 6 p.m. posing as a customer.
When the store's lone female employee was assisting him, he sexually battered her and asked if she wanted to go to the back of the store where he wanted to take pictures of her in a state of undress.
The suspect was described as a white man, about 40, around 5 feet 8 inches tall, with short hair and a light beard. He was wearing a blue sweater and gray basketball shorts. He told the employee his name was Steve and he ran an online photography business.
Anyone with information is asked to call Torrance police at (310)618-5570.