Thieves pepper-spray pregnant woman

The woman had left the Vendôme metro station shortly after 9 p.m. on Feb. 22, and was walking north on Grey Avenue towards Sherbrooke Street. As she walked, she realized she was being followed by the four suspects.

“One of the suspects pepper-sprayed the woman, who fell down, hurting her knee,” said Const. Peter Mandelos. “He grabbed her purse, but she recoiled in a reflex action, and the suspect ended up struggling for the purse.”

The suspect yelled, “Give me your purse,” while the other suspects were telling their accomplice to get the woman’s wallet. The victim was also screaming, and the suspect finally let go when, police believe, he saw a male witness in the area.

“The four suspects ran off without the purse or the wallet, and the witness used his cell phone to call 9-1-1,” said Mandelos. “Urgences Santé treated the woman on the scene, and she appeared to be OK, apart from the minor injury to her knee. She refused to go with them to the hospital, saying she would go on her own.”

The first suspect, who used the pepper spray, is described as a black male, 16 to 22, six feet two inches and thin. He wore a parka with a fur-lined collar and a black scarf over his face. The other three suspects were males also aged between 16 and 22.

“If you are walking and feel threatened, or feel you are being followed, use your cell phone to call 9-1-1,” said Mandelos. “You should try to walk with someone else or in a group at night time, and try to choose a route that is well-lit and one where there are stores, or some place where you can stop in if you need help.”