June 10, 2014 Update  |  January 4, 2013 Update

The Vancouver Police Department, in conjunction with West Vancouver Police and Burnaby and North Vancouver RCMP, are appealing to the public to help identify a suspect believed to be responsible for eight brazen robberies that targeted local, family run grocery stores.

On March 31st, the man is suspected of robbing a Safeway grocery store on Marine Drive in West Vancouver, where he produced a handgun during the robbery.

On April 14th, the robber struck a second time and used a gun to rob a Supervalu in North Vancouver, followed by the robbery at gunpoint of a locally run grocery store on Lonsdale Avenue on May 6th.

The man struck again at a Vancouver Extra Foods on May 12th, followed by the armed robbery of an IGA Market on West 41st Avenue in Vancouver on October 11th.

The Choices Market on 10th Avenue in Burnaby was robbed on October 26th and the suspect used a gun to rob another Choices Market on West 57th Avenue in Vancouver on November 17th.

In the most recent robbery on December 1st, a North Vancouver Toys-R-US was robbed at gunpoint as holiday shoppers filled the store.

“The level of violence in these robberies appears to be escalating,” says Detective Constable Joe Danieli of the Vancouver Police General Investigative Unit. “We are concerned for the safety of the public and want to see this man arrested before someone gets hurt.”

Witnesses say the man is white, 60 years old, 5’10” tall, with a heavy build and short grey hair. During the robberies, the man was wearing a baseball hat and dark sunglasses and he was seen driving a black 2006 to 2010 Ford Explorer with black wheels.

 

Anyone who sees this man or this vehicle, is asked not to approach him and call 9-1-1 immediately.

Anyone with information about these robberies, and has not spoken to police, is asked to call the Vancouver Police General Investigative Unit at (604) 717-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.

Robbery Locations

Saturday, March 31 at 7:33 p.m.
Safeway
1650 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

Saturday, April 14 at 6:43 p.m.
Super Valu
3230 Connaught Crescent, North Vancouver

Sunday, May 6 at 6:55 p.m.
Queensdale Market
3030 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver

Saturday, May 12 at 7:03 p.m.
Extra Foods
7190 Kerr Street, Vancouver

Thursday, October 11 at 6:38 p.m.
IGA Marketplace
3535 W.41st Avenue, Vancouver

Friday, October 26 at 5:55 p.m.
Choices Market
8683 10th Avenue, Burnaby

Saturday, November 17 at 6:01 p.m.
Choices Market
1880 W.57th Avenue, Vancouver

Saturday, December 1 at 5:40 p.m.
Toys-R-Us
333 Brooksbank, North Vancouver