101-year-old WWII vet tied up and robbed in his Ottawa apartment

WATCH: Ernest Cote, a 101-year-old veteran of the Second World War, was tied up and robbed in his Ottawa home. As Mike Le Couteur reports, the police are intent on finding who robbed him.

TORONTO – Ottawa police are searching for a suspect after 101-year-old Ernest Côté was tied up and robbed in his apartment building in the New Edinburgh community of Ottawa, Ont. Thursday morning.

Côté, a veteran of the Second World War, was alone in his apartment at the time when a man claiming to be a City of Ottawa employee was buzzed into the building around 7:30 a.m.

The suspect asked for money at Côté’s door and when he refused, the suspect tied the elderly man up and searched the apartment before fleeing with cash and undisclosed items.

After the suspect left, Côté – who was uninjured- was able to free himself and call police.

The Ottawa police robbery unit is leading the investigation.

The suspect is described as a caucasian male, approximately 50, with fair complexion, a prominent nose, and short grey hair. He was wearing a driver’s style cap and possibly glasses, and was dressed in a black winter jacket, pants, boots, and gloves. The suspect also carried a black shoulder bag.

Investigators Tweeted a photo of the suspect Thursday evening.

Thursday afternoon police said they were working to get surveillance video from the apartment complex to try to identify the suspect.

Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” and “angry” to learn of the robbery today.

“I am privileged to know him, and I am angry to think that someone would do such a thing to any Canadian senior, let alone someone who fought to secure the freedom we all enjoy,” said Fantino. “I hope that the person who did this will face the full force of the law.”

Côté is a retired lieutenant colonel with the Canadian Armed Forces. In July 1945 he became the second secretary for the Department of External Affairs and in 2004 he received France’s Legion of Honour Award for his military service in France during the war.

IN PHOTOS: 101-year-old Ernest Côté is a veteran of the Second World War

Côté, a longtime public servant, became the assistant deputy minister to the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources in 1955. He became the veterans affairs deputy minister in 1968 before he served as the deputy solicitor general of Canada; an office he held from 1968 to 1972 when he was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to Finland.

Police are asking anyone with information  to contact the Ottawa police robbery unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5116. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-8477.