Hamilton police are searching for a man who robbed a woman in an underground parking lot.

It happened shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Hughson St. North and Robert St.

Police say a woman had just parked her vehicle when she was approached by a man carrying a dark coloured bar and knife.

The man demanded the woman hand over her purse and cell phone. Once she turned over the items, the thief fled on foot.

Investigators say the woman was not injured and the man did not raise the weapons towards the victim during the incident.

Police have released an image of the suspect and believe he may have been involved in an unrelated incident in the area of Mary St. and Barton St. East before the robbery.

The man is described as white, with a medium build and was wearing a grey hood sweater, a black scarf over his face, a dark coloured coat, a baseball cap, dark blue pants, white running shoes and a black backpack with red accents on top.

Police are asking residents in the area to check surveillance footage for any suspicious activity.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Cst. Alex Buck or Det. Sgt. Dave OIeniuk at 905-546-3817.