Thief deploys bear spray on employee while stealing booze from Nanaimo liquor store

Nanaimo RCMP

The Nanaimo RCMP is turning to the public for assistance in identifying multiple suspects after a liquor store employee was bear sprayed during a theft of several expensive bottles of booze.

According to police, the alleged incident took place at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22 at the Landing Liquor Store, located in the Brooks Landing Mall.

The thieves targetted several bottles of Scotch whiskey from the store and when confronted by staff, one of the suspects produced a canister of bear spray and discharged it in the vicinity of the employee before fleeing with the alcohol.

Two women were also in the store at the time of the theft and police believe that they were used to distract the employees while the man that deployed the bear spray selected the liquor bottles.

According to Nanaimo RCMP, officers attended the scene after the incident to speak with employees and offer medical aid, however, it was declined.

The employees told investigators that it was evident to them that the two women were attempting to keep the employees occupied while the male suspect selected the bottles.

Employees also told police that when the man was confronted and told that 911 was being called, he discharged the bear spray and proceeded to flee on foot into the parking lot. Police searched the surrounding area for the suspects but were unable to locate them.

The man is being described as a person in his mid-20s, standing at approximately 6’2″ and had dark-gelled hair at the time of the incident.

One woman was wearing a long grey jacket with a red hoodie underneath during the incident, while the other woman was said to have a slim build and was wearing a black and yellow face mask and a black hoodie with a triangular logo on the front.

Pictures of all three suspects can be seen in the image above.

Anyone with information on this incident or who recognizes any of the suspects is being asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, and quote file #2022-9736.

CHEK News

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