Maria Weisgarber Multi-skilled Journalist, CTV News Vancouver
@ctv_mariaw Contact
Published Tuesday, January 12, 2021 12:09PM PST
VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Police are looking for the public's help to track down a suspect after a homeless woman's blankets were set on fire while she was sleeping.
The arson happened on Dec. 13 around 4 a.m. In a news release, Sgt. Steve Addison said luckily the woman woke up just in time to put out the flames.
"A few more seconds and this could have been tragic," he said.
Security video released by the police showed a man wearing what's described as a "unique black and white Oakland Raiders jacket" approach the victim, who was sleeping on Hamilton Street near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
The video shows him crouched down, and then a bright flame appears before he walks away. In a subsequent image from the video, the flames have grown much larger and the woman is seen walking around the fire.
Police said the woman has not reported the incident to police, and has not yet been located, but they are hoping to speak to her. They described her as being in her 30s, with dark shoulder-length hair. At the time, she was wearing a grey, full-length button-up jacket.
They said the suspect is white, between 35 and 50 years old, between 5'5" and 5'10".
"This was a shocking attack that targeted a vulnerable member of our community, and we hope the public can help solve this crime," Addison said in the emailed release.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-669-8477.