Violent Robbery in Nanaimo

NANAIMO - One man is in police custody tonight, another suspect is still at large after a violent robbery and arrest early Monday morning in Nanaimo.
It started when two men bound and gagged a custodian at a neighbourhood pub. They took the safe and forced her to give them her pin numbers for her bank and accounts.

But only one of the robbers got away. The other was captured by police with help from a transit driver and a taser.

Workers were installing temporary security on the door thieves used to smash their way into Pipers Pub on Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo.

The female custodian was tied up with duct tape - while the thieves ransacked the cash machine and took the pub's safe.

A short time later, an RCMP member spotted a man with a mask using an ATM. A foot pursuit followed.

The RCMP member chased the suspect to Woodgrove Mall - where an arrest was made - but not after a violent confrontation that included the use of a police taser.

During the struggle, bus driver Derek Sharpe came to the aid of the RCMP member. He sat on the suspect.

A 48 year old man is in police custody facing a variety of charges - including robbery, forcible confinement and wearing a mask while committing an indictable offence.

The white truck, the safe and the second suspect - described only as being 6 feet tall and wearing a dark jacket with white stripes on the sides - are still at large.

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