3rd Burnaby sexual assault triggers police warning

Burnaby RCMP have issued a warning after another woman was attacked and groped while walking alone earlier this week.

The latest assault happened on Springer Avenue, between Georgia Street and Francis Street onTuesday,around 1:55 a.m. PT.

According to police, the woman was walking home from a Hastings Street bus stopwhen an unknown man approached her from behind.

The man placed his hand over her mouth, pulled her toward the bushesand attempted to grope her.

The woman screamed and fought the assailant, who then fled northbound on Springer Avenue, across Francis Street.

Thesuspect is described as:

• Caucasian male.
• Medium build.
• Taller than five feet eight inches.
• Wearing a dark hooded jacket.

The incident is the third reported by Burnaby RCMP in the area in recent months, and the second on Springer Avenue.

While the suspect description in all three incidents is similar, investigators are not sureif the incidents are linked.

They are asking the public to remain vigilant when walking alone in the area at night.

1st Springer Avenue incident

The first incident happened on Friday Jan. 29 at approximately 10:30 p.m. in the area of Springer Avenue at Braelawn Drive.

In that incident a woman was walking home from the SkyTrain station when an unknown male approached her from behind, restrained her arms and groped her.

He then hit her and ransouthbound on Springer Avenue and then eastbound on Broadway.

The suspect was described as:

• Male.
• Five feet six inches.
• Slim build.
• Wearing a black hoodiewith the hood up.
• Black track pants that tapered toward the bottom of the leg.

Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail incident

The second incident happened on the Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail south of the Lougheed Highway near Government Street on the afternoon of Feb.18.

Police say at approximately 12:40 p.m. a woman was walking along the busy pathway when she was approached by an unknown man and sexually assaulted.

Police released a sketch of the suspect, who was described as:

• Caucasian male.
• Slim build.
• Five feet seven inches tall.
• Balding.
• Between the ages of 40 and 50 years old.
• Wearing black gloves, a grey hoodie, black jacket.
• Black Adidas runners with green writing.
• Grey sweat pants that had very muddy cuffs.

Police are asking anyone who has witnessed any suspicious activity in the areato call theInvestigative Support Team at 604-294-7922, or to contact Crime Stoppers.