One man is facing criminal charges following a series of attempted car-jackings last night in East Vancouver.
Around 4:30 p.m., a man was shopping for a car battery at the Canadian Tire Store located at Grandview Highway and Bentall Street. As an employee was preparing the customer’s invoice, the customer walked away from the counter, returning moments later with a balaclava covering his face.
The man grabbed the battery and walked out of the store without paying. He was challenged by security in the parking lot, at which point security believed that the thief pulled out a knife.
The suspect swung the battery at security and the balaclava-covered crook ran onto Grandview Highway.
In an attempt to flee, the suspect, still believed to be in possession of a knife, tried to car-jack a small hatchback that was stopped for a red light, westbound on Grandview Highway. He opened the driver’s door and attempted to pull the driver from the car. The driver, saved by her seatbelt, hit the gas, dragging the thief a short distance before he dropped off. The Suzuki collided with a taxi, causing the airbags to deploy in both vehicles.
The suspect tried to get into the taxi through a smashed window, but was unable to get through the broken glass.
The crook then jumped on the hood of a passing SUV that was stopped in traffic, yelling at the motorist to drive away.
A nearby off-duty Vancouver Police officer managed to negotiate the man off of the hood and held onto him until uniformed officers arrived.
The man remains in custody and charges of robbery, assault with a weapon, disguise with intent, obstructing a police officer and theft under $5,000 are pending.
One of the passengers in the taxi was transported to hospital as a precautionary measure, the other vehicle occupants were uninjured.
