Thieves spray bear mace inside Maple Ridge pawn shop
Posted August 10, 2016 4:45 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) – Police in Maple Ridge still looking for suspects after a broad-daylight robbery on Lougheed Highway.
The thieves let loose with pepper spray or bear mace inside the Common Exchange pawn shop before driving away from the scene.
“Ambulances, fire trucks and police cars were all lining the streets,” says Michelle Tayor, who was working across the street at the time. “I could see several people standing around on the sidewalk and they all had a bunch of paper towels and were wiping off their faces.”
Ridge Meadows police are still early in their investigation, but they refute reports that one person was shot or stabbed during the robbery.
“Our neighbourhood has gone so downhill in the last year and a half,” says local business owner Kim Guthro. “We have been broken into five times in one year, we’ve had to metal gate our front.”
She adds that they’re considering not renewing their lease when it runs out.
“People just don’t shop down here anymore; they’re scared to because of stuff like this.”
