Vancouver: The police have initiated an investigation into four alleged sex assault incidents in the city’s downtown area.
In a press release, the police said since April 27, four women have reported being sexually assaulted while walking during the late evening.
Vancouver Police have released images of a suspect and believe that the same man is responsible for each assault.
According to the Vancouver police, all four incidents occurred after dark in the neighbourhoods surrounding BC Place and Rogers Arena.
In each case, the woman targeted was between 25 and 40 years old, the police added.
“On April 27, a woman was walking near Pender and Abbott Street around 9 pm when she was approached by a stranger from behind, then groped. Within minutes, a woman was walking near Georgia and Beatty Street when she was also groped,” the Vancouver Police Department said in a press release.
“Two days later, on April 29, a woman was standing near Georgia and Beatty Street when she was groped by a stranger around 9:15 pm. A fourth victim was then sexually assaulted near Georgia and Hamilton Street around 11:15 pm,” the police added.
Sergeant Steve Addison, Media Relations Officer, Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said detectives from VPD’s Sex Crimes Unit spent several days canvassing the neighbourhoods for information, and speaking with concierges at apartment buildings in the area.
He said investigators were able to retrieve images of a man, which VPD are now releasing to the public.