A Langley man has been arrested after a violent attempted robbery at a Peardonville Road business.
Const. Ian MacDonald said just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday the man walked into the business in the 32300 block of Peardonville and immediately pepper sprayed the 70-year-old store owner and pushed him to the ground.
The robber then ordered the man to open the store’s safe.
The victim’s wife also entered the store during the robbery and was confronted and pepper sprayed as well. She ran out of the store and flagged down a passing driver for help.
The suspect fled in a Chevrolet Cavalier with cash and jewelry from the safe, but the woman had given police a description of the car.
An Abbotsford Emergency Response Team member heard the car’s description over police radio and found the car at the corner of Clearbrook and Marshall Roads.
The suspect was arrested and pepper spray, cash, and jewelry were found in the car.
The first 911 call to the police about the robbery came through at 4:04 p.m., and the arrest took place at 4:09 p.m., said MacDonald.
The 36-year-old Langley man has previous convictions for robbery and aggravated assault, and police will be recommending a charge of robbery with a weapon, MacDonald said.