Burnaby RCMP seek witnesses after late-night sexual assault

Section 1: Community Safety Alert

Burnaby RCMP are investigating a late-night sexual assault on a woman walking alone near Royal Oak Avenue and Beresford Street, and a separate report of a suspicious man at a nearby residence shortly afterward. Both incidents happened late on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in the same general area of Burnaby.

The first incident occurred around 11:30 p.m., when an unknown man approached a woman from behind and sexually assaulted her. About 30 minutes later, a resident in the 7300-block of MacPherson Avenue, close to Beresford Street, reported a suspicious man at a ground-floor sliding door who had also reportedly been seen in the same yard earlier that evening. Investigators are working to determine whether these incidents are connected and are asking the public for information and any relevant video footage.

Section 2: Official Incident Details

According to the official information from Burnaby RCMP:

• Date of first incident: Thursday, July 9, 2026
• Time: Approximately 11:30 p.m.
• Location: Area of Royal Oak Avenue and Beresford Street, Burnaby
• Incident type: Sexual assault by an unknown male suspect
• Summary: A woman walking alone reported that a man came up from behind her and grabbed her buttocks. An altercation followed. The victim resisted and screamed, causing the suspect to stop. As she called 911, the suspect ran away.
• Injuries: The victim did not report physical injuries, but the event is being treated as a serious sexual assault.
• Police response: Frontline officers carried out extensive patrols in the area, but were unable to locate the suspect. Investigators are continuing to pursue leads based on the victim’s account.

Second, a suspicious person was reported later the same night:

• Date of second incident: Thursday, July 9, 2026 (continuing into early July 10)
• Time: Just before midnight, with an earlier sighting around 11:00 p.m.
• Location: 7300-block of MacPherson Avenue, near Beresford Street, Burnaby
• Summary: A resident reported a suspicious man at the sliding glass door of a ground-floor apartment. The man ran off after the resident hit the window. The same person was reportedly seen in the same yard at about 11:00 p.m., but that earlier sighting was not reported at the time.
• Possible connection: Investigators have not confirmed whether this suspicious person and the sexual assault suspect are the same individual.

Public Assistance Needed – Crime Canada Community Call to Action

Police are actively asking for the community’s help to identify the suspect and clarify what happened. If you:

• Witnessed the sexual assault near Royal Oak Avenue and Beresford Street, or
• Saw a suspicious man in the 7300-block of MacPherson Avenue area near the time of these incidents, or
• Have dashcam, doorbell, or security video from the surrounding area between 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 9 and 1:00 a.m. on Friday, July 10,

you are urged to contact Burnaby RCMP as soon as possible.

Contact for tips and information:

• Burnaby RCMP non-emergency line: 604-646-9999
• File number: 2026-23973 (quote this number when calling)

Your information, no matter how minor it may seem, could be critical in advancing this investigation and improving safety in the Royal Oak and Beresford area. For broader context on local patterns of reported crime, residents can review Burnaby crime statistics and safety data compiled by CrimeCanada.ca.

Section 3: CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective

From the perspective of CrimeCanada.ca, late-night stranger assaults and suspicious-person reports in residential areas are key early warning indicators for community safety in British Columbia. Even when a victim is not physically injured, these incidents can have significant psychological and neighbourhood-level impacts. Rapid reporting, as shown in this case, gives police a better chance to locate suspects, identify patterns, and protect others in the area.

Residents in Burnaby and surrounding communities are encouraged to stay alert when walking alone at night, especially in less busy areas. Whenever possible, walk with others, keep your phone accessible, and trust your instincts—if a situation feels unsafe, move toward well-lit, populated areas and contact 911 in an emergency. Non-emergency suspicious activity, such as a person repeatedly approaching doors or windows, should still be reported promptly to local police. Consistent community reporting, paired with data-driven awareness tools like our regional Metro Vancouver crime and safety profiles, helps build a clearer picture of local risks and contributes to safer streets for everyone.

Official Source & Community Safety

This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the british-columbia community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.

Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.