Attempted robbery in mall
Employee's call for help saved business

Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 15/99) - The Centre Square Mall was given a jolt Tuesday afternoon when a man attempted to rob a business while the mall was crowded with shoppers.

Barren Land Jewellery was attended by a sole female employee when a man in a navy blue parka walked into the store with his hood up and a white face covering pulled up over the bottom half of his face at approximately 2:10 p.m.

The store's attendant had been talking in the hallway with an employee of a neighbouring business when the man made a motion to enter the jewellery store. The jewellery store attendant followed him in.

"When he went in the store I left her, and next thing I know she came screaming out," said Honeylet Sayong, manager of the Soap Berry Shop, who had been talking with the Barren Land employee.

"I had only just turned around and left her, just then, when she came out and screamed help, help. It happened really fast."

The man was still in the store when the employee bolted out, then he ran out of the store when she screamed. The man did not manage to make off with any money or goods from the store. The man had demanded that the employee give him the money from the cash register, but she managed to escape without having to open the till.

The employee said the man had not threatened her with a weapon, but the whole incident had left her fairly shaken up.

RCMP were called to the scene within minutes of the incident and began patrolling the mall and the area where the man was reported to have headed. The man was reported to have run out the exit by the Bank of Montreal and continued on foot towards the parking lot between the Subway and the liquor store.

RCMP were quick to follow up on descriptions of the man given by witnesses, but an arrest was not made. A lone male described as a caucasian, 5'8" to 5'10", with short brown curly hair, wearing a blue, thigh-length parka with a fur-trimmed hood, a white balaclava, white sweat pants and white runners, is being sought in relation to the incident.

Anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity are asked to contact Const. Glen Demmon of the Yellowknife RCMP at 669-5200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).