West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»police are looking for witnesses after an 86-year-old woman was violently mugged on Marine Drive on New Year’s Day.
According to police, the victim had been shopping at Park Royal and was walking home around 5:10 p.m. when the incident happened.
The woman had just crossed Marine at 11th Street when someone ran up behind her, snatched her purse and knocked her to the ground, fracturing her shoulder, according to Const. Kevin Goodmurphy, West Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»police spokesman.
The suspect fled immediately and the senior flagged down a passerby who comforted her until help arrived. She was taken to Lions Gate Hospital to be treated for the fracture but has since been released into the care of her family.
Now investigators are hoping someone who might have seen what happened or knows who is responsible will step forward. There are no known surveillance images of the attack and the victim didn’t get a good look at her attacker.
Because the purse snatching escalated to an assault, the suspect would likely be charged with robbery, Goodmurphy said.
“It’s quite rare that violence of any level is used during a theft like this,” he said. “It’s horrible. When someone who is vulnerable due to their age is targeted like this, it’s just disgusting.”
Goodmurphy could not say how much cash was lost in the theft. The victim cancelled all her cards but police are monitoring whether anyone attempts to use them.
Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact them at 604-925-7300 (file #20-32) or if they wish to remain anonymous, to visit www.solvecrime.ca or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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