The Shelbourne corridor continues to be an area of concern as an 18-year-old male suspect attacked a 25-year-old woman who was walking home on Thursday night and stole her purse.
The incident happened shortly after 11 p.m. in the area of Shelbourne Street and Blair Avenue.
An unknown male on a bike approached the woman and asked to use her cellphone. When she refused to give it to him he dropped his bike and chased her. He then pushed her to the ground and stole her handbag, and fled by bike.
“Saanich Police were contacted and patrol officers quickly attended the scene, including a K9, but failed to find the suspect,” said acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie.
Police describe the suspect as 18 years old with a slim build, about five-foot-nine with a rounder face and blondish hair.
“His one distinctive feature was a black-and-white bandana wrapped like a headband,” Leslie said.
Earlier this month Saanich Police apprehended the suspects believed to be responsible for a series of unrelated crimes along Shelbourne. One male is in custody for a sex assault and robbery on Church Avenue and another for a string of break and enters through ground floor patio entrances.
“Our investigators are asking that if you saw the suspect in the area around the time of the [Blair Street] robbery to call Saanich Police. We’re hopeful someone may either know this suspect and come forward or be able to provide us with more information to help us further our investigation.”
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact the Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).