Police are looking for a Caucasian woman in her 30s who allegedly entered a Staples store on W Georgia St Mar 18, began arguing with staff and spat in one staff person’s face before security escorted her out.

“Spitting would be considered an assault,” says Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Const Jana McGuiness.

“We’re searching for the suspect,” she adds, noting that the report has been forwarded to the hate crime unit for review.

Det Tim Houchen of the VPD hate crime unit says homophobic slurs were aimed at staff.

“I believe one of the statements was that they shouldn’t hire gay people,” he reveals.

“It appears to us to be a bias, prejudice and hate-motivated incident,” Houchen says.