Masked man allegedly sexually assaults woman near SkyTrain station in East Vancouver
Police are hunting for a masked man who allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman near Nanaimo SkyTrain Station in East Vancouver on Wednesday evening.
According to a release, the incident took place at around 9 pm, “just minutes” after the woman got off the SkyTrain at the station.
Police say the woman was walking south on Nanaimo Street, near Lawrence Street, when a masked man grabbed her from behind and groped her before running off.
The suspect is described as an Asian man, 20 to 30 years old. He is five feet eight inches tall, with a slim build and short dark hair.
The suspect wore a dark-coloured ball cap, dark-rimmed plastic framed glasses, a dark jacket with a light-coloured liner, dark pants, running shoes, and a white medical mask covering the lower half of his face.
Possibly related to earlier case
The latest assault comes on the heels of a similar case on October 29 when a man assaulted another woman after she got off a bus near Victoria Drive and East 64th Avenue.
The suspect in that incident was also described as an Asian man, five feet nine inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with short black hair, wearing a dark-coloured jacket, shorts, and a medical mask covering his face.
“Although we have not confirmed the link between the two incidents, we want the public to be aware that similarities exist and one man could be responsible for both attacks,” said VPD Const. Jason Doucette.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are sharing this information, and asking people to remain vigilant, particularly after leaving transit in East Vancouver.
All suspicious behaviour, he added “should be reported to 911 immediately.”
If you have any information about either of these cases, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leave a tip online at solvecrime.ca.