56-year-old arrested after bank robbery, crashes, chase, non-lethal weapons fired at suspect on HWY 1 in Burnaby: RCMP
Posted March 26, 2025 3:51 pm.
The Burnaby RCMP has released more details about a bank robbery that allegedly led to multiple hit-and-run crashes and a chase on foot across Highway 1 Tuesday afternoon.
In an update Wednesday, police say a 56-year-old man has been arrested, but the investigation is ongoing.
Callers to 1130 NewsRadio first reported an incident between Gaglardi Way and Brunette Avenue around 12:40 p.m., where traffic was blocked for over an hour — intermittently in both directions.
The BC Highway Patrol says a driver and suspect vehicle were involved three crashes near Gaglardi Way, Government Street, and Brunette Avenue following a robbery in Burnaby.
The Burnaby RCMP confirms it responded to reports of a robbery at a bank near the corner of Hastings Street and Sperling Avenue Tuesday. Police say the suspect left the scene before officers arrived.
“While Burnaby RCMP officers were in the early stages of their investigation, a driver, believed to be the same suspect from the bank robbery, was then allegedly involved in several crashes which occurred on Highway 1,” said Mounties in a statement to CityNews.
Police say the suspect finally stopped and abandonded his vehicle after the crash on Brunette Avenue and attempted to run across the busy highway.
Callers described the driver leaving the car in the middle of the road, and running to hide.
Visuals from the scene showed police and fire crews surrounding one area of bushes on an embankment near the westbound shoulder of Highway 1.
“The suspect did not comply with police commands. After attempting to de-escalate the situation, officers deployed non-lethal rounds in an attempt to take the man into custody, however, he continued to ignore police instruction. He was arrested with assistance from a police service dog from the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service,” Mounties explained Wednesday.
Police say the suspect was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. No one else was reportedly “seriously injured” in either the robbery or crashes.
