Security guard sprayed in the face with bear mace.
Vancouver Police have released security video of a take-over-style robbery at a downtown retailer last fall, and ask anyone who knows the violent suspects to call police.
VPD began investigating this incident on December 9, 2021. Now seeking help from the public to identify the suspects because the public have been “instrumental in helping us solve a number of disturbing attacks in recent months” says Constable Tania Visintin, adding “and we’re once again asking for help to identify and apprehend some violent criminals”.
Two suspects are seen entering the Gucci store near Thurlow and Alberni streets, immediately pulling out bear mace and spraying the security guard in the face. The violent robbers then rushed to the display cases and jacked approximately $20,000 in merchandise in just seconds.
The 33-year-old security guard was completely incapacitated by the attack, and fled out an emergency exit to hide in a stairwell with three other employees until the robbers left. They were treated by paramedics after the robbery.
While these violent thieves were wearing masks, they were soon seen in footage form another security camera without their disguises. They left out the front door of the shop and quickly exiting through a door to a hallway, which one dropped their hat on the ground and left it. The door appears to be propped open by a yellow slippery when wet sign.
The police obtained the footage early in the investigation. But for investigative reasons they have been unable to release it until now.
