Brookline Police Investigate Random Sucker Punch Attacks

BROOKLINE (CBS) - Brookline was recently ranked one of the top small cities in the country. It's an artsy eclectic melting pot full of things to do and places to see. But apparently all is not well.

Police there are investigating a pair of random attacks only two weeks apart in which two people were suddenly sucker punched for no reason.

"It's a very good neighborhood," said one resident. "I'm shocked to hear this, it's very safe,"

Police say it's not just one person, it's two. The first assault happened on August 3rd on Harvard Street in the middle of the afternoon. A woman was suddenly punched in the left eye by a female suspect.

Two weeks later on Beacon Street, a man walking with a friend was punched in the face by a male suspect. The victim's glasses shattered.

In both cases, the suspects escaped.

"It's just weird," said one woman. "People here are really nice, everybody's really calm...so yeah...surprising."

"Like maybe in the student area, towards the Allston-Brighton side you would expect that, but not in this neighborhood for sure," said one man.

Police are asking the public for help, and looking for possible surveillance video that may shed light on the attacks.

In the meantime, Brookline residents are adjusting to the reality that violent crime can happen anywhere.

"For someone to just go up to somebody is crazy," said a woman. "I mean this is Brookline."

Police have questioned at least one person, but haven't made any arrests.