BELLINGHAM - A 24-year-old man was beaten and robbed Friday morning, Aug. 26, after another man approached him asking for a cigarette, but then started throwing punches, police said.

The victim, a Whatcom County man who was visiting a friend in the 2100 block of Electric Avenue, stepped outside at about 9 a.m. to smoke a cigarette, said Bellingham Police spokesman Mark Young. A man then approached him and asked for one of his cigarettes and a light.

When the man got close enough, he started punching the victim, Young said. He then took cash and a pack of cigarettes from the victim.

The suspect left on foot.

Police took the report of the robbery from the victim after he had been taken by private vehicle to the hospital.