Vancouver police release images of a sex assault suspect

Vancouver police have released images of a suspect in a series of four sex assaults near the city’s downtown core.

Investigators on Tuesday issued a statement asking anyone who can identify the man to call police.

Since April 27, four women have reported being sexually assaulted while walking during the late evening, and police believe it’s the same man in each case.

All four assaults occurred after dark in the neighbourhoods surrounding B.C. Place and Rogers Arena. In each case, the woman targeted was between 25 and 40 years old, according to police.

In the first assault, a woman was walking near Pender and Abbott Street around 9 p.m. when she was approached by a stranger from behind, then groped. Within minutes, police allege a woman was walking near Georgia and Beatty Street when she was groped. Both victims reported the crime right away to the VPD.