On December 12, 2014, at approximately 8:00pm, Oak Bay Police Department Officers swiftly responded to an attempted robbery at Tomley’s Market located at 2897 Foul Bay Rd. Oak Bay, British Columbia.

Just before 8:00pm, a lone man entered the market and approached the cashier, handed her an empty plastic grocery bag and told her to “fill it” and indicating that this was a robbery.  The cashier remained calm and called out to her fellow co-worker to come to the checkout stand area. It is believed the cashier’s hesitation to comply with the robber’s demands may have caused him to grow impatient and flee.  While fleeing the robber haphazardly sprayed the checkout stand area and front entrance of the market with what is believed to be pepper spray.  One of the witnesses reported the suspect had what appeared to be a small black handgun tucked in the waistband of his pants. This has not yet been confirmed.  No goods or cash were stolen and no one was injured.

The British Columbia Provincial Ambulance Service attended the scene and treated the market employees who had been exposed to and were experiencing irritation from the pepper spray.

The suspect was dressed in dark clothing and had a black balaclava covering his face and gloves on his hands. The suspect is believed to be a white male, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, 190 pounds and between the ages of 45-55 years old.  Saanich Police Department Forensic Identification Section attended and has processed the crime scene. The Saanich Police K9 Unit also attended the scene but the suspect was not located.

The investigation is ongoing and more details will be provided when they are available.

If anyone has any information about this crime they are asked to contact the Oak Bay Police Department at 250-592-2424 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.victoriacrimestoppers.com