Burnaby RCMP are appealing to residents for help after a woman was assaulted near the Royal Oak SkyTrain station on the night of July 9 and officers received a separate report of a suspicious man in the same neighbourhood shortly afterwards.
What happened
Police say the first incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. when a woman walking alone near the intersection of Royal Oak Avenue and Beresford Street — adjacent to the station — was grabbed from behind. According to the RCMP, an altercation followed; the victim resisted and screamed, prompting the suspect to flee as she called 911. The detachment reported no physical injuries.
About half an hour later, police received a separate report of a man acting suspiciously outside a ground-floor apartment in the 7300 block of MacPherson Avenue, near Beresford Street. The resident said the man approached a sliding glass door and fled when the occupant banged on the window. The RCMP noted the man had been seen in that yard earlier, around 11 p.m., but that earlier sighting was not reported at the time.
Investigative focus and appeal to the public
While investigators have not confirmed a link between the two incidents, Cpl. Mike Kalanj of the Burnaby RCMP asked anyone who witnessed either event or who captured images on doorbell or dash cameras to contact police. The request covers a time window of 10:30 p.m., July 9 to 1:00 a.m., July 10.
“We cannot currently say for certain if the two incidents are related; however, we are asking anyone who saw the suspicious man in the second incident or witnessed the first incident to please come forward and speak to our investigators.” — Cpl. Mike Kalanj, Burnaby RCMP
- If you have information or video, call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999.
- Quote file number 2026-23973 when providing tips.
- Residents with doorbell or dashcam footage from the Royal Oak/Beresford/MacPherson area during the specified window are urged to check and report relevant clips.
Local context and implications
The incidents occurred in a busy transit-adjacent neighbourhood used by commuters and pedestrians late at night. Incidents near SkyTrain stations raise concerns about personal safety for transit users, especially those travelling alone after dark. The RCMP emphasised the victim’s prompt call to police and said officers are following leads based on information shared by her.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | July 9–10, 2026 |
| Time window | 10:30 p.m. (July 9) to 1:00 a.m. (July 10) |
| Location | Royal Oak Ave & Beresford St; 7300 block MacPherson Ave |
| RCMP contact | 604-646-9999 — File 2026-23973 |
Authorities continue to canvas the area for video evidence. For Burnaby residents, the appeal is practical: check home security footage, be vigilant when walking near transit hubs at night, and report suspicious activity promptly to assist investigators and improve neighbourhood safety.
