A crime in broad daylight Friday afternoon in which a woman, left vulnerable when her car broke down, was attacked by two men has left many fearful.

It happened about an hour outside St. John’s on the TCH in Brigus Junction at about 3:00 as a woman was trying to fix her car.

Two men who she did not know approached and then struck her. They stole her purse and fled in a car, which may have been a Honda Civic.

The two have dark hair and may be in their twenties. One was dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans; the other was wearing dark-coloured sweatpants.

RCMP have not released much detail but the incident begs the question: did the two pose as good Samaritans only to strike the victim, who was clearly in a vulnerable state as ferocious winds howled and wind chills neared minus 20.

Police are asking anyone who may have passed through or stopped in the area between 2:30 and 3:30, and who has an electronic witness, to contact them or Crime Stoppers.