Oceanside RCMP are searching for the suspect of an alleged armed robbery at a Qualicum Beach gas station.
Police received a report of an armed robbery at the Qualicum Beach Shell Gas Station at Highway 19A and Memorial Avenue Tuesday, March 6, at 2:15 p.m., according to an Oceanside RCMP news release Wednesday.
Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman said the suspect had reportedly “brandished a knife and held out a fabric bag” and then told the store employee to “empty out the till and get me Export A Blue cigarettes.”
The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes, Foreman said.
“The male then fled the business on foot and was last seen running north on Highway 19A,” said Foreman in the release. “RCMP flooded the area and called in Police Dog Services (PDS). PDS tracked the suspect, but unfortunately the track ended near the beach mostly due to the high amount of foot traffic in the area.”
The suspect is described as between 18 and 25 years old, Caucasian, five-foot-six to five-foot-eight, light eyes and brown hair. He was wearing blue jeans, a black hoodie (pulled over), a ball cap and black fabric covering his face. He was possibly wearing a pair of black Adidas running shoes.
If anyone has any information, or saw the suspect fleeing the area, call the Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.
— NEWS Staff/Oceanside RCMP release