Nanaimo Mounties are on the hunt for a man who punched a 14-year-old girl in the face before stealing her iPhone.
The girl was sitting at a table outside of the Beban Park Recreation Centre on Bowen Road around 5:20 p.m. Sunday when the man approached her, according to police.
He grabbed her iPhone and the girl put up a struggle, during which she was struck in the face and fell down.
A Good Samaritan saw the attack unfold and tried to chase the man in his car, but he couldn’t find him.
A police canine unit was called in but also couldn’t find him.
He was last seen riding a bike near the barns on the east side of the recreation centre complex.
The girl suffered facial bruising and a cut knee, and while she didn’t require further medical attention she was badly shaken, police said.
“She was upset, she was crying. She did have some family members with her before but they weren’t with her at that time,” said Const. Gary O’Brien.
O’Brien described the attack as a “crime of opportunity,” in which the thief likely planned out his actions.
“He targeted that person, and from my understanding he was waiting until she was isolated,” he said. “That’s what criminals do.”
He's described as a white man between 5’8” and 5’10” in his late teens to early 20s.
He was wearing a white T-shirt, coloured shorts and a blue knapsack and was seen riding a small, black bicycle, possible a stunt bike.
The stolen phone is a black iPhone 5 with a purple case.
Police say there doesn’t appear to be a connection between the attacker and his victim.
Anyone who knows the man or has information is asked to call police at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
