SPRINGFIELD -- A young woman fought off her attacker in downtown. Now she hopes the chemical that protected her will also help police find her attackers.

Shanna, a Missouri State University sophomore who requested her last name not be used, studied at the Mud House on Monday night.  She was attacked on the way to her car.

The attack occurred around South Avenue at Pershing Street.  She said three men followed her and one tried to snatch her bag.  Fortunately, she was prepared with a can of Mace in hand.

"He grabbed my bag, which is on my right shoulder, grabbed it very forcefully.  I knocked off of him, pushed him and sprayed him with Mace," said Shanna.

It was enough for her to get away safely with her belongings.

"I don't know what would've happened if I didn't have my Mace," she said.

With few details about the attackers to give to police, she hopes the dye left on her attacker will aid police before he strikes again.

"It can be found in their clothing, it can be found on them. A lot of this is going to help them. They may not run straight home," said Dennis Rice of Kelly's Police & Tactical Supply.

Rice said all the Mace that his store sells now contains a dye picked up by ultraviolet light. He's seen a lot more women turning to those products.  It is no silver bullet for detectives but it can catch suspects in lies.

"In most situations, they can deny, deny, deny, but, in a situation like this, that dye in there will be able to help law enforcement as more evidence," Rice said.

A police report has been filed.  Police say they have no suspects but the dye can stay on not only clothes, but skin, for several weeks.

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