A woman in Corvallis, Oregon, was recently attacked and robbed outside the local post office. Area police were still searching for a suspect several days after the incident and believe they are looking for a 40 to 50-year-old man with gray hair and a beard, the Corvallis Gazette-Times reports.Police say that the incident occurred around 7 a.m., when the victim was getting into her car. She told investigators that a man came up from behind and struck her with a blunt object, which knocked her to the ground. According to the news source, authorities said that the man stole her purse and several other items before taking off.
The victim's purse was later recovered from the surrounding area and she suffered no life-threatening injuries.
Still, the incident raises the issue of being aware of one's personal safety at all times. The National Crime Prevention Council suggests taking steps such as carrying bare essentials and having one's key out at all times.
In addition to precautionary steps, individuals may want to buy pepper spray. The device has proven to be an effective way to disable a potential attacker and allow one to get to safety.
