Man attempts knifepoint robbery in Vernon

The Vernon RCMP is requesting the public's help in identifying a man who attempted to rob a downtown business at knifepoint on Friday afternoon.

According to a Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media release, at roughly 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, the man walked into a business on the 3700 block of 32 Street in Vernon and walked behind the till area. RCMP do not identify the business.

When a member of staff told the man he was not allowed in the area and asked him to leave, he demanded money. The man had a knife in his hand.

A second worker, who was in the back office, heard what was going on and came out and confronted the man with a stool. The suspect then fled the business empty-handed.

“During the exchange with the clerks, the suspect dropped the knife he was holding," Vernon RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Tania Finn said in the release. “Police have seized the knife in order for it to be examined by our Forensic Identification Section.”

Police describe the suspect as a Caucasian man, 5’ to 5’2" in height, with blonde or light brown hair and stubble on his face. He was wearing a tan or light coloured jacket and a black or dark-coloured toque.

Anyone with any information should contact Vernon RCMP Const. Spoor at 250-545-7171, or remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.


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Ben Bulmer

After a decade of globetrotting, U.K. native Ben Bulmer ended up settling in Canada in 2009. Calling Vancouver home he headed back to school and studied journalism at Langara College. From there he headed to Ottawa before winding up in a small anglophone village in Quebec, where he worked for three years at a feisty English language newspaper. Ben is always on the hunt for a good story, an interesting tale and to dig up what really matters to the community.