A man who is wanted in Surrey in connection to robberies at six Subway restaurants matches the description of a suspect wanted for a similar incident in Abbotsford.
Const. Ian MacDonald, spokesman with the Abbotsford Police Department, confirmed that investigators are looking at a possible link.
“This continues to be what appears is a spree of robberies throughout the Fraser Valley,” he said of the Abbotsford robbery.
MacDonald said police do not believe there is any connection between this incident and a rash of Subway robberies that took place in Abbotsford almost 18 months ago.
The recent incident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday at the Subway in the 31900 block of South Fraser Way.
A man entered the restaurant, produced a weapon and fled. It’s not known whether he escaped in a vehicle parked away from the scene.
MacDonald said two employees were in the restaurant at the time. One was manning the front, while the other was in the back.
Investigators canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses and are reviewing video pulled from the store and other sources.
They are also asking for any potential witnesses who might have seen the man in the store. Police believe a father and children might have been leaving the story as the robber was coming in.
The suspect in the Abbotsford Subway robbery is described as a South Asian man, in his early 20s, with a thin build.
That is the same description as the suspect wanted in the Surrey robberies.
RCMP issued photos of the man (left) on Monday, following the latest incident in Surrey. It took place Sunday in the 8000 block of King George Boulevard. The suspect brandished a knife and made off with cash.
He was wearing a black hoodie with “Nike” in red on the front, black pants and Nike Jordan Blasé running shoes. Police say he may have left the scene in a four-door silver vehicle.
MacDonald said businesses like Subway, pizza restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations can be easy targets for robbers due to their easy in-and-out access.
They also have limited seating, meaning there are likely to be fewer customers – hence, witnesses – on hand.
Anyone with information is asked to call Abbotsford Police at 604-859-5225, the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
