A masked man seemed to have foiled his own robbery attempt at TD Canada Trust in South Surrey Dec. 29 – just prior to the branch’s closing time – before fleeing on foot across the street and into the Wal-Mart parking lot.
Surrey RCMP said the man – clad in black clothing, gloves and full ski mask – walked into the bank, at 2411 160 St., around 7:56 p.m., then beat a hasty retreat after he slipped and fell to the floor, without making contact with staff or customers.
No cash appears to have been taken in the incident, police said.
Customer Pierre Paris told Peace Arch News he arrived at the bank just before 8 p.m. and was using the ATM machine when three RCMP cruisers pulled up to the TD building and officers began speaking to witnesses and bank employees.
“They were looking everywhere,” Paris said, adding that he heard the details of the incident from a witness inside the bank, who was speaking to an RCMP officer.
Surrey RCMP said they did not call in a police dog team because of the large amount of foot traffic around the bank. Information from bank employees indicates a similar looking man had been seen in the area previously.
– with files from Nick Greenizan
