An arrest has been made in connection with a daytime robbery of a downtown Victoria jewelry store by a man with a hammer.
Francis Jewelers on Broughton Street lost an expensive watch and other items in the April 15 incident. The store reopened April 18.
Downtown Victoria Business Association chief executive Jeff Bray said he is happy to hear about the arrest.
“That’s terrific news and great work from VicPD,” he said.
Bray said there was good surveillance footage for officers to work with.
“VicPD often successfully makes arrests,” he said. “The issue happens now when it gets to Crown counsel and the courts, as to whether or not somebody who created such a heinous, violent, dangerous robbery actually gets remanded this time and not simply released back out into the community.”
Many businesspeople have been expressing a similar sentiment, Bray said.
Victoria police said Wednesday that a suspect was located on the weekend at a multi-unit supportive-housing facility on Dowler Place.
He attempted to flee on a bicycle but was caught by officers. It was later determined that he was also wanted on six warrants for a variety of other offences.
The suspect remains in custody, police said. Police are recommending charges that include armed robbery, assault with a weapon and breaching a number of court-ordered conditions.
Store owner Rafal Zebrowski told CHEK News just after the incident that he feared for his life. Staff and customers were left shaken.
He said he approached the suspect at first but backtracked after seeing the hammer. The man was shouting, “I will smash you,” Zebrowski said.
The man barged behind the counters, broke into a display case with the hammer and took some items, then stole a watch while breaking two more display cases.
Staff members than managed to get the man outside.
The store has had an open-door policy but Zebrowski plans to lock the entrance until customers arrive.
