Three years and three weeks ago, a woman was beaten at her Port Coquitlam front door as she arrived home from work.
Now, local Mounties are asking for the public's assistance in identifying the attacker, and they have a description of the suspect as well as details and photos of a vehicle believed used in the crime.
This is what happened, according to Coquitlam RCMP: On June 28, 2013, a 57-year-old woman who lived near the 2800-block of Commonwealth Street in PoCo returned home from work around 4:30 p.m. and was unlocking her front door when a man ran up from behind and repeatedly hit her on the head and body with a blunt instrument. He then fled in an waiting vehicle before police arrived.
The victim was taken to hospital, where she was treated for her injuries, which included cuts to her head and bruising to her arms and legs.
The Mounties at the time did not issue a press release about attack, said Const. Jamie Phillipson, the Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson, because investigators believed it was targeted and there was no danger to the general public.
They still believe that, he said, although the victim did not know her attacker.
“Although the motive is unknown, information obtained from the victim and scene of the crime suggests that this was a targeted attack,” said Const. Phillipson. “We believe that someone out there knows the person responsible for this senseless act of violence and we ask that they do the right thing and come forward to police.”
He said investigators have continued to work towards identifying a suspect, and, after three years of collecting and analyzing the evidence and following up on leads, they now have an image, taken from a security video, of the SUV believed to be associated to the crime. They're looking for witnesses to the attack as well information from people who may know what happened.
That SUV is a metallic grey 2008 to 2010 Nissan Rogue SL Sport with a green "N" under rear window, tinted rear passenger and back windows, a moon roof and roof rack, and five-spoke rims with a slight "u" shape at the top of each spoke.
Police describe the suspect as a Middle Eastern man with a dark complexion, about 25 years old, 5'10" and 180 lb.; at the time of the attack, he was wearing a baseball hat, dark clothing and a bandana covering the bottom half of his face.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote police file number 2013-18275.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers:
• by phone: 1-800-222-8477(TIPS);
• online: www.solvecrime.ca;
• by SMS: text BCTIP and your message to CRIMES (274637)'
• or via Facebook: facebook.com/metrovancouvercrimestoppers.
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