School janitor struck on head with baton in "violent" robbery: VPD

Vancouver Police are investigating a “violent” and unprovoked robbery of a school custodian in East Vancouver on Tuesday evening.

According to VPD Const. Tania Visintin, the incident took place around 5:20 pm, after the victim had parked his car in front of Gladstone Secondary School, near Gladstone Street and East 27th Avenue.

“Two men approached him and demanded he give them his backpack,” said Visintin. “When the victim refused, one of the suspects struck the victim on the top of his head with a baton.”

The men then grabbed the victim’s backpack and left the area in a dark-coloured SUV, “possibly a Chevrolet,” and drove away north on Gladstone Street and then continuing east on East 24th Avenue, Visintin said.

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One of the suspects is described as white, while the other suspect’s ethnicity is unknown. “Both men were wearing dark clothing with no logos, dark baseball caps, and face masks,” said Visintin.

The 38-year-old victim was treated by paramedics for bleeding to his head as a result of the incident.

Now, police are asking any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at 604-717-3321 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.