A 56-year-old woman couldn't do much other than watch her robber ride off after he knocked her down while snatching her purse Thursday.
The victim was walking on Dufferin Crescent at about 5:15 p.m. when her purse was suddenly pulled. She had no time to react as she fell to the ground and watched the man ride away on a mountain bike toward Boundary Avenue with her credit cards plus the cash she'd just withdrawn to pay her rent.
The woman called 911, but police were unable to find the suspect, described as Caucasian, 5-foot-7, in his mid 20s with longer, unkempt blonde hair and wearing a dark ball cap and a dark jacket over a grey hoodie.
Police said the woman was only slightly injured and has cancelled her credit cards.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.