Quesnel RCMP members are looking for suspects in a pair of robberies that are being treated as linked.
Around 4:20 a.m. today (Jan. 16), Quesnel RCMP were called to a break-and-enter in progress at South Hills Shell gas station on Juniper Road in Quesnel.
Police arrived to find a running, stolen pick-up truck that had been rammed into the side of the building.
The suspects had already fled the scene in another vehicle.
A short time later, police were alerted to a robbery that had just occurred at the Town Pantry Chevron gas station on Carson Avenue in Quesnel.
The suspects entered the gas station and used pepper spray inside the store to subdue the lone employee.
The suspects targeted the cigarette and lottery ticket displays and left with an undisclosed amount of product.
The store employee was treated on scene by BC Ambulance Service crew for pepper spray contamination, and the victim didn’t suffer lasting injuries.
An initial investigation has revealed that these two incidents are linked.
It is alleged around 4 a.m. the suspects gained entry to a vehicle dealership on Juniper Road and stole two pick-up trucks from the lot.
The first was used to ram into the side of the gas station on Juniper Road and the second was used as the getaway vehicle from the robbery downtown.
The second pick-up has yet to be recovered.
It is described as a 2018 Black Dodge Ram 1500 Sport. There is no licence plate associated with this vehicle.
Quesnel RCMP uniformed members are in the initial stages of this investigation with assistance from the Quesnel RCMP General Investigations Section and the Williams Lake RCMP Forensic Identification Section.
These investigations are a priority and the RCMP is asking that anyone who may have any information about either of these incidents to call the Quesnel Detachment at 250-992-9211 or BC Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.