Police are investigating a rash of armed robberies at Subway restaurants in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, including two in Surrey Wednesday morning.
The local incidents follow at least three others in nearby jurisdictions in the past two weeks.
On Aug. 21, a Subway sandwich store on Willingdon Avenue in Burnaby was robbed by a man with a knife. No one was injured.
Last Sunday, a Subway was robbed at gunpoint in Abbotsford at 10 p.m. and at about the same hour on Tuesday (Sept. 6), police believe the same man came back to the same store and robbed it again.
Abbotsford Police are now asking for more witnesses and information in hopes of capturing the culprit, described as Caucasian, in his 40s, 5’ 3” to 5’ 5” tall, and with a scruffy beard. He was wearing a black hoodie during both robberies. It’s uncertain whether the gun in those robberies was real or imitation.
Then on Wednesday morning, two more Subways were hit, this time in Surrey.
At 7 a.m., a man described as Caucasian and in his 30s or 40s, came into the Subway at 13775 72 Ave. in Newton, produced a knife and demanded cash.
About an hour-and-a-half later, the Subway at 10700 152 St. in Guildford was robbed by a man of the same description and in a similar fashion.
No one was injured in any of the robberies, but staff were shaken up.
Surrey RCMP aren’t dismissing the possibility the robberies are connected, pointing out that when a robber is successful at one outlet, he will often hit it again.
Surveillance video at the stores is currently being examined, while police compare fingerprints obtained by forensic teams.
Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
