Police have urged women to be vigilant against spray attacks after several women reported similar attacks in robbery attempts last week.

Chinese-language newspapers have reported more spray-and-rob attacks after a young female KFC employee was attacked Tuesday night.

The woman, surnamed Zhao, suffered severe burns to her left eye, nose, mouth and throat after two men sprayed her face with a chemical and tried to snatch her handbag in the Gangxia area in Futian District on Tuesday night.

Two other young women were attacked by two men who sprayed their eyes near the Shunjia Department Store in Shangsha, Futian District, at about 10:30 pm Thursday.

One of the women had to have her eyes treated at hospital after she complained she was blinded in the attack.

A Madame Chen reported a similar attack near the Wal-Mart in Shekou Wednesday evening.

She closed her eyes when a man tried to spray her face. The liquid had a stinking smell and her throat burned, she said. She felt dizzy but managed to make her way home where she washed her face thoroughly.

Chen's eyes were not affected and she did not need to go to hospital.

Doctors have not identified the spray.

Police say spraying chemicals seems to have become a new method of attack used by robbers and women should avoid going out alone at night.

(Shenzhen Daily October 20, 2003)