Good Samaritans foil Vancouver robbery, save shopkeeper: police

A trio of Good Samaritans thwarted an attempted robbery at a Vancouver convenience store on Saturday by scaring away the suspect and calling 911, police say.

A 23-year-old shopkeeper was grabbed from behind by a masked man with a knife while closing up a family-run convenience store in East Vancouver at around 9 p.m. PT, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said in a statement.

The suspect threatened to stab the woman and was physically forcing her into a nearby alley, it said.

At the same time, a man driving by noticed the pair and thought something appeared off. He pulled over and flagged others to help, VPD Sgt. Steve Addison said.

"In this case, everybody did exactly what we encourage people to do," Addison said.

"The victim made a big noise. She called for help. She was able to get the attention of passersby who intervened. They called 911. They yelled at the suspect and we believe their actions caused the suspect to release the victim,"  Addison said.

"We're absolutely grateful for their quick thinking."

'Really terrifying'

Police say the 59-year-old suspect, known to frequent the area, was located around 10:30 p.m by Crime Watch volunteers patrolling near Memorial South Park, roughly 29 blocks south of the convenience store. The suspect is now in custody.

Neighbours who witnessed the incident told CBC that the man who pulled over his car was Christopher Boyd, 29, of Vancouver.

In an interview, Boyd said he was driving on East 12th Avenue when he saw a man and woman near a convenience store.

"He had his arms and kind of a physical, looming presence over her," said Boyd. "It was really terrifying all around."

Boyd said he stopped his car and approached the woman to ask if she was OK. The man told him to leave them alone, that they were a couple. But he said the woman at first did not respond.

Masked attacker

She had her back against a wall, half-hidden in a corner near clothing bins. As Boyd walked closer he said he noticed the man was wearing a mask.

At that point, Boyd retreated, running back to 12th Avenue to flag down others for help as he feared the man may have a weapon.

"I was terrified as soon as I saw his balaclava, I was absolutely terrified," he said.

Boyd said he felt terrible for the victim, thinking she might believe he was leaving her, and wished he could reassure her.

As he waved down drivers, some ignored Boyd, but finally two men stopped. At that point, the victim was yelling for help.

All three men yelled at the suspect, and he eventually fled, dropping a knife in some bushes behind the business.

"I was trying to chase after him," Boyd said. "He let go of her and started running down the lane way, so I immediately grabbed her and told her to run back in this direction toward the street to get away from him."

'You've got to be there for people'

He said it's scary to consider what might have happened if he hadn't been passing, adding he would stop again in similar circumstances.

"You know, danger be damned. You jump in and you help people because that's what it's all about. You've got to be there for people," Boyd said.

Gail Hallett, who lives behind the convenience store, heard the yelling and came outside to comfort the victim. She lauded Boyd and the other men for helping her.

"We stayed with the girl here until police came, paramedics came and her family came. It was awful for her," Hallett said.

Police said the victim was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. 

Saturday's attempted robbery comes in the wake of several violent attacks on strangers in the past few months in Vancouver. Last week, a stabbing in downtown Vancouver left a 70-year-old man dead and another man's hand severed. Surgeons later reattached the man's hand.

Meanwhile, Saturday's attempted robbery has left the neighbourhood shaken.

On Sunday, Nakwon Choi waited outside the convenience store, disappointed the shop was closed and shocked to hear of the violence the night before.

"You really shouldn't have to feel concerned here – but still it happens and it's a very scary thing," Choi said.