Drive-In Break-and-Enter At Pine Centre Mall
Employees with A+ Automatic Door & Store Front Ltd replace doors smashed by break-in 250News photo
RCMP say the culprits smashed through the doors at the back entrance of the mall in a stolen Jeep Cherokee, continued on down the hallway and through the security gate around Paris Jewellers.
Prince George Media Liaison Officer, Corporal Craig Douglass, says, "Multiple individuals wearing dark clothing, with their faces covered, exited the vehicle and removed an undisclosed amount of jewellery from the store. The suspects then fled in the vehicle." There is no word on the value of goods stolen at this time.
A similar robbery at Spruceland Mall in 2011, involved a van driving into Jewellery Direct. Approximately $50-thousand dollars in damage was done to that store, and cement barricades have since been installed on the sidewalk in front of the store. (click here for story)
Douglass says officers responded to the break-and-enter call at 3:35am this morning. Police are looking for the public's assistance in locating a 1995 four-dour red Jeep Cherokee with a rack on the roof (for skis, bikes or kayaks). The Jeep was stolen on Thursday from a residence in the 700 Block of Patricia Boulevard.
Crews are working to replace the broken doors at the mall's back entrance. A sign outside Paris Jewellers says the store is closed until further notice. Staff can be seen inside, vacuuming up glass, several cases are covered with sheets and the security gate is being repaired.
While Pine Centre General Manager, Sonya Hunt, was unavailable for comment, staff say it is business as usual this hour.
Police are asking anyone with information about this brazen robbery to phone the Detachment at 250-561-3300, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES (274637)
Photo below shows hallway Jeep careened down en route to jewellery store 250News photo
Comments
Gee…. No pillars at the entry doors to the mall,what a simple fix. Clearly this was planned in advance, so time to check security cameras for the past week. Clearly no in house security patrols after hours. These guys are not novices, this was very well planned and executed. Security upgrades are needed.
Looks like someone forgot to get their gf a valentine’s day present during regular business hours.
I had no idea Pine Centre Mall offered drive through service.
Don’t know about the rest of you, but this kind of high profile crime would be embarrassing for Prince George, should it happen during the Canada Winter Games, exactly 1 year from now.
I guess some things you just can’t plan for?
This mall very much needs security upgrades!
I think it is embarrassing right now! Nothing is safe unless it is behind thick iron bars and concrete barricades!
It looks like society’s evolution has shifted into reverse!
“A similar robbery at Spruceland Mall in 2011, involved a van driving into Jewellery Direct. Approximately $50-thousand dollars in damage was done to that store, and cement barricades have since been installed on the sidewalk in front of the store.”
You would figure that the so-called management at Pine Centre would’ve gotten the hint after this, but I guess not.
The jeep was reported stolen within minutes of it happening but multiple cruisers couldn’t locate it.
Seth Tobin and Carters now use roll shutters at night and put away the jewelry in the safe. Smash all you want you are not going to get much except maybe a 20 dollar shelf clock
Dragonmaster, how do you know the jeep was reported stolen within minutes of it happening?
A friend of a friend was listening on a scanner when the jeep was reported stolen.
The jeep was reported stolen thursday. Some people cannot read the article properly
I believe Dragonmaster is saying “The jeep was reported stolen within minutes of it happening (on Thursday) but multiple cruisers couldn’t locate it.
Thanks for the ans Dragonmaster. DPJ, I was asking how the Dragonmaster knew it was reported within minutes of it happening on Thursday night. DPJ maybe you shouldn’t throw stones before reading and re-reading comments.
Some of Dragon’s comments are subject to misinterpretation. Myself and someone else misinterpreted his comment on a sexual assault a couple of weeks back.
Forgive me for pointing out the obvious, any comment may be misinterpreted, including mine and even yours People#1. Fortunately we are able to ask for clarification on these threads before we let our thoughts run away on us.
I know the owner of the Jeep. The Jeep was reported stolen as it drove out of the driveway down Patricia and turned left onto Hemlock street. It’s a very hard vehicle not to spot, a 1995 Cherry Red Jeep with large black kayak racks on the top. Hard not to spot with a full tank of gas and lots of power.
May have been hidden nearby, lots of garages in that area. Dragon’s comment was clear to me.
Something similar happened recently in November in Ft St John too if I remember correctly. Drove into the mall and hit a jewelry store. Same guys maybe?? That’s a very similar M.O.
blog/view/30208
This is what I use,, http://www.scanbc.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page ,, just find your city.
I was listening to the scanner when it was stolen on Thursday night – right down the street!
#douchebag(s)
…the app for iphone is deluxe scanner radio.
Concrete pillars aren’t gonna do much. Smash the window, wrap a chain around the security bars and and pull them down with a truck. I’m surprised more of these break in don’t happen
Bollards (concrete pillars wrapped in a steel sleve) go down approx 4 feet in the ground – they will stop a truck dead in its tracks. At College Heights a semi got its wheel ripped off by one when it turned into a bollard protecting an electrical transformer, it did bend the bollard slightly.
http://www.canterburyintl.com/bollards_chicago_safe.shtml
This has MO been happening here, down south, in Alberta and even up north. No one thought to improve security up here?? And how much does one of those steering wheel locking bars cost?
I remember the good ol’ days when only jails and pawnshops had bars on the windows. IF these guys get caught and are let out on their own recognizant ad go to trial within six months from the time they are arrested, I still again and again predict that they will only get one day in jail, eighteen months probation and a whoop de doo firearms ownership ban for 10 years. Those penalties sure will keep criminals scared. I give up. Alas.
How does that old joke go? Oh yeah, If I would have killed my wife/husband when I first thought about it I would have been out of jail by now.
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