A woman got a face full of pepper spray in an attempted purse theft at a Barrie plaza.
Around 6:40 Thursday evening, police say the woman had just left a store at 555 Essa Road at Mapleton Avenue and was in the process of putting groceries in her car when a man approached her from behind and sprayed an "irritant" in her face.
"Although an attempt was made to steal her purse, the suspect was not successful," police said in a media release on Friday.
Witnesses told police the suspect got out of the passenger seat of a white car that was last seen travelling southbound on Essa Road from the plaza after the failed purse snatching.
The suspect is white, in his 30s, and he was wearing a grey hoodie and dark sunglasses.
"A canvass of area businesses was conducted for any available surveillance video and unfortunately none has been located. Police are seeking the assistance of anyone who may have observed this incident take place. If you were in the plaza and saw anything last night that can assist with this ongoing investigation, please contact the Barrie Police Criminal Investigations Division and speak to either Detective Constable Mulhall at extension 2561 or Detective van Schubert at extension 2669," police added.
