Surrey Police Service is asking residents to help identify a suspect after a 10-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulted inside a business near 138 Street. The incident occurred on September 17 at about 7:15 pm, when police say a man approached the child and briefly touched her before running from the area.

Officers responded shortly after the report was made and the SPS Special Investigation Section has since taken over the file. Investigators released a surveillance image of the suspect on Thursday, hoping someone in the community may recognize him. Police in Surrey have noted that commercial areas along 138 Street are often busy during evening hours, increasing the likelihood that witnesses may have seen the individual.

The suspect is described as a man between 20 and 30 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall. At the time, he was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt, dark overalls, a light-coloured hat, a light-coloured cross-body bag and over-ear headphones.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey Police at 604-599-0502 or reach Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 using file number 25-81384.