When the two women in their 20s living there opened the door, an unknown man forced his way in and a sexual assault occurred.
“This incident was specific. It’s not that multiple doors were pounded upon until someone opened up the door,” says Saanich Police Sgt. Dean Jantzen. “It wasn’t random in that regard. It does appear that this specific suite was the target of this incident.”
After the assault, the suspect forced the the two women to walk to a nearby bank and demanded they withdraw cash to give to the attacker.
The women managed to get away and fled to the Starbucks at Shelbourne Plaza. Coffee shop staff contacted police.
According to the Times Colonist report, as many as two dozen officers have been involved in the case, including forensics specialists, street-crime officers and dog teams.
The man is described as a white male between the ages of 30 and 40 who was unshaven and bald headed. Police say the victims were traumatized, but suffered only minor injuries in the attack.
The suspect then fled on foot westbound across Shelbourne St, according to police.
Saanich Police canvassed the neighborhood and connected with schools and colleges in the area.
