Police issued a public warning this afternoon after two women reported being approached by a suspicious man and a third woman was sexually assaulted, all within approximately 90 minutes of each other, early this morning in East Vancouver.
Just before 12:30 a.m., a 22-year-old woman was walking in the area of Monmouth Avenue and Joyce Street when she was approached by a man from behind who asked her not to move, according to a news release from the VPD. Concerned for her safety, she ran out of the area and called police.
Half an hour later, at about 1 a.m., a 34-year-old woman near Joyce Street and Vanness Avenue was entering an apartment building when she was grabbed from behind by a stranger. She screamed and the man ran off.
Then, shortly afterwards around 2 a.m., a 21-year-old woman on East 46th Avenue near Doman Street was grabbed from behind by a man, according to the VPD. He allegedly pulled the woman into bushes outside an unoccupied house where she was sexually assaulted.
In each of these three alarming incidents, the suspect was described as a man between the ages of 20 and 40, standing five-foot-six and wearing dark clothing.
Police ask that anyone with information contact them.
“We are encouraging anyone with information about these attacks, or who witnessed suspicious activity in the area, to contact police,” said VPD spokesperson Randy Fincham.
“We are advising the public to look out for one another, while officers work diligently to identify and locate the attacker," he said.
Anyone with information about these attacks, or who may know the identity of this suspect, is asked to call 604-717-3720 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
