Members of the public helped mall security apprehend two suspects after a foiled jewellery store robbery in ValleyFair Mall on Friday, Sept. 30.
First responders were called to the mall at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Ambulance and fire were on scene treating people outside the mall, near Save-On-Foods for either pepper spray or bear spray. Victims were sitting on the sidewalk, and two women appeared to be in some distress.
Witnesses said there appeared to have been up to five suspects who attempted to rob the jeweller in the mall. It was the third robbery attempt at the store in recent months. The last time was on Aug. 17, where the suspects used bear spray.
READ MORE: Witnesses say bear spray used in Maple Ridge mall robbery attempt
A witness who was getting a manicure and pedicure at a nearby business said he heard screaming and people slamming doors.
“I jumped up, my feet were all oily, but I ran out, and one of the robbers ran right towards me, and I go to tackle him and my feet went right out from underneath me,” he said.
“I let him go, but I saw a bunch of chaos down the other side, so I ran down the other side, and helped tackle and pin a guy down,” he said.
He kept a knee in the suspect’s back, keeping his weight on him to keep him down.
He told the suspect “This is a shitty way to start your weekend buddy.”
The man, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he and another customer helped to apprehend the culprit, with the help of mall security.
He was affected by pepper spray in the air, and was coughing, but did not get the full effects.
He said he didn’t see weapons, or he would have been “outta there.”
Then he finished getting his pedicure.
However much of the mall was closed to the public.
More details as they become available.
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