Photo: Contributed

Richmond RCMP have released this picture of a man suspected of an attempted robbery in the city centre.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man pepper-sprayed a woman and tried to steal her purse in Richmond city centre.

The 52-year old Richmond woman was returning to her parked vehicle around 4 p.m. on Friday, June 14, after departing a currency exchange on No. 3 Road, near Saba Road.

According to Richmond RCMP, the woman was approached by a male suspect, who sprayed her several times with a substance believed to be pepper spray, then fled after unsuccessfully trying to steal her purse.

She was treated for exposure to pepper spray in addition to other, non-life threatening, injuries sustained during the struggle