Dramatic video shows Saanich laundromat worker tackling robbery suspect

CHEK

WATCH: CHEK News exclusive video shows citizens stepping up to stop an apparent robbery. It happened in Saanich with one employee and several bystanders chasing the suspect and pinning him down until police arrived. Isabelle Raghem has this bizarre story.

Exclusive footage given to CHEK News shows the moment when a Tillicum Laundry employee tried to stop an apparent robbery on Saturday night.

Tillicum Laundry Robbery

Tillicum Laundry Robbery

Duration 29s

In the video, the 50-year-old woman used one arm to block the man from leaving while using her other hand to call 911.

“You don’t see footage like that on a regular basis,” Const. Damian Kowalewich with Saanich police said.

“Clearly the person responsible for this was very desperate.

A few moments later, a customer steps in and tackles the suspect before falling to the ground. The customer held onto the man’s legs before the suspect eventually got out of the business.

More than three people then chased the suspect outside and pinned him to the ground. Witnesses say the man was threatening the bystanders with a knife.

The incident happened Saturday around 6 p.m. after the employee, who did not want to be named, noticed a man acting suspicious at the change machine.

The owner provided the video to CHEK News. This is the second time the business was robbed this year.

Tillicum Laundry Manager Debbie Harrison said she is proud of her employee but added she won’t be encouraging anyone to do this again.

“It’s not worth $50 or a $100 or couple hundred dollars to lose a life,” Harrison said.

Police said the man took about $150 in coins and faces a robbery charge.

We will have more on this story at CHEK News at 5 p.m.

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