Another Abbotsford business has been robbed at gunpoint, marking the fourth such incident in the city in 22 days.
The latest robbery took place just before 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday at a convenience store in the 2100 block of McKenzie Road.
A lone man brandishing a handgun confronted a 21-year-old female employee and demanded cash.
After obtaining money, he ran away southbound on McKenzie Road.
The culprit is described as Caucasian and 5′ 6″ with a stocky build.
The man was wearing a grey hoodie with the hood pulled around his face and had a red-and-white bandana covering the lower part of his face.
He wore a baseball cap under the hood, sunglasses, light-coloured plaid shorts, light-coloured gloves, and black-and-white running shoes.
Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said there are similarities to this incident and the three previous robberies.
“In all of these incidents, a lone suspect has entered a business with a firearm in hand and wearing a hoodie with a bandana covering his face,” he said.
“The businesses have had minimal staff and, to this point, no customers in the premises when the suspect commits the robbery.”
MacDonald said despite the fact a lone suspect enters the premises, it does not rule out the possibility that others are involved in the robberies by waiting nearby in a getaway vehicle.
He encourages business owners to “elevate their robbery awareness and security practices,” and ensure that video surveillance is operational.
MacDonald said the public is urged to report any suspicious activity in and around businesses.
The previous three robberies occurred Oct. 3 at a pizza restaurant in the 30400 block of Bluedridge Drive, Sept. 30 at a Subway restaurant in the 31900 block of South Fraser Way, and Sept. 16 at a McDonald’s in the 3200 block of Mt. Lehman Road.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225, text abbypd (222973) or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
