British Columbia

Burnaby RCMP creates task force following 5th sex assault

Burnaby RCMP have announced the creation of a task force after revealing Monday there had been an attack Sunday afternoon on another woman — the fifth sexual assault since Jan. 29.

RCMP report another victim sexually assaulted Sunday afternoon near SFU

Staff Sgt. Major John Buis of the Burnaby RCMP says a fifth sexual assault victim has come forward. (Kamil Karamali/CBC)

Burnaby RCMP have announced the creation of a task force after revealing Monday there had been an attack Sunday afternoon on another woman — the fifth woman sexually assaulted since Jan. 29.

Police say the woman had just left the Lakecity SkyTrain station and was on a trail near SFU around 2:50 p.m. PT when the she was attacked.

Her sexual assault was interrupted by a Good Samaritan who left prior to the police arriving on scene. RCMP are encouraging him to come forward and help with the investigation. 

The suspect is described as:

  • White male.
  • Five feet seven inches.
  • Wearing a dark, cotton hoodie pulled over his head.

RCMP say three of the five victims were women walking home from public transit at night, and they're warning women to be vigilant. 

They say it's too soon to tell if the five incidents are linked, but some of them have similar characteristics. 

They have also released a map showing the location of the five incidents.

North Burnaby sexual assaults (January-March 2016)

RCMP have released a map of five sexual assaults that have taken place in Burnaby since late January. (RCMP)

With files from Kamil Karamali