A 44-year-old man is in custody after a woman was assaulted and had her wallet stolen outside a Courtenay business in what police called an unprovoked attack.
Comox Valley RCMP said they were called by the victim about 8:45 p.m. Sunday after the incident in the 1700-block of Cliffe Avenue.
The 64-year-old woman said she saw a man she didn’t know in the parking lot of the business and asked he needed help.
He then assaulted her and took her wallet before leaving the area.
The victim called 911 and was taken to hospital for treatment of serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Police identified the suspect through surveillance footage and arrested him Monday.
Allan Gibson has been charged with robbery and assault causing bodily harm, and was remanded in police custody pending a court appearance.
“This appeared to be an unprovoked attack,” said Insp. Scott Mercer, officer in charge of Comox Valley RCMP. “I am proud of the response and efforts made by our investigators to apprehend the person believed to be responsible.”
