Saanich police captured a 35-year-old man who robbed the Burnside Road 7-Eleven with a knife last Friday, but investigators say it's not the same suspect behind a rash of 7-Eleven robberies on Carey Road this year.
A man brandishing a knife walked into the Burnside 7-Eleven around 11:20 p.m., and demanded and received cash and cigarettes. The clerk was shaken but not hurt.
Clear and quickly provided video surveillance from the 7-Eleven gave officers a good description of the suspect. About 10 minutes later, police saw a man matching the video footage walking on the 100 block of Hampton Road. He ran off through Hampton Park when police approached, but surrendered after a short foot chase.
Police were able to find the cigarettes, cash and the knife. The 35-year-old Saanich man has a history of robbery convictions, but police say he may have committed this robbery while suffering an mental health crisis and had the intention of getting caught.
He is due in court on Nov. 12.
Police say he doesn't match the description of the man who robbed the 7-Eleven at Carey and Tillicum roads four times in the past year (June 25, July 15 and Sept. 10 and Sept. 14), each time threatening the clerk with a weapon – a screwdriver, a tire iron and twice with a knife.
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