A South Asian senior was taken to hospital after a brazen midday beating to his face and hands in Newton last week.
It's an assault that bears an eerie similarity to a previous attack on a hockey mom a short distance away.
Surrey Mounties are asking for public assistance after a 72-year-old man was beaten and robbed at 1 p.m. on Thursday at Newton Athletic Park.
Police responded to the call for assistance in the 7300-block of 128 Street to find the elderly man suffering from injuries to his face and hands.
The man was able to describe his attacker as a man with a dark complexion in his early 20s, approximately 5'8" with a slim build. He was wearing a hoodie, red jacket and dark sweatpants.
He fled the area southbound along the park trails.
The attack occurred just over three kilometers from where hockey mom Julie Paskall was fatally beaten in December outside Newton Arena, near 72 Avenue and 136B Street. The troubled area near where Paskall was attacked is referred to by locals as "Somali Pirate Park" because of a large number of foreign-born drug dealers in the area.
Police describe the suspect in Thursday's attack at Newton Athletic Park as darker skinned, "perhaps Somali."
That said, police don't believe this most recent attack is related to any other incidents. It's believed the attacker may have been after the victim's jewelry.
As a result, police are reminding citizens about being vigilant when it comes to their personal possessions and being aware of their surroundings.
For more information visit the “Protect Yourself” section of the Surrey RCMP website.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or if you wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.