An elderly security guard from Surrey is recovering in hospital after being viciously assaulted Sunday at a Port Coquitlam construction site where he was working.
Hoshiar Singh Bajwa sustained more than 50 stitches and head injuries after he was beaten by three men at the Pitt River middle school construction site. The 65-year-old was able to phone 911 but Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said given his condition, he was unable to provide police with much information.
"His injuries are pretty extensive," Chung said. "He received many stitches. A weapon may have been used but, at this point, we don't know."
What police do know is that three men approached the security guard at around 3:30 a.m. One of the men is described as a white male, 5'7" tall who was wearing a hoodie with a white stripe on it. Descriptions of the two other suspects have not been determined and Chung said police are hoping that as Bajwa's condition improves, he will be able to provide more information.
In the meantime, police are searching the scene for any video surveillance footage. Investigators are also trying to determine if anything was stolen from the construction site.
"As far as we can tell, nothing was taken from the site," Chung said. "But we are working with the [construction company] to see the records of inventory."
He added that security guards, like regular citizens, should act as the eyes and ears for police and should not intervene in situations where criminal activity is taking place. Instead, they should phone the police, Chung said.
"There are times when they might feel comfortable intervening," he said. "Sometimes if you have a co-worker with you, or the persons you are intervening on are younger... but intervening is not always a viable option and they should [phone police]."
Anyone with any information about the suspects is asked to call the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550. Those who wish to provide information anonymously should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to www.solvecrime.ca.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com