Update, Friday, July 21: Victoria police say they have found and seized the motorcycle used in Wednesday’s armed robbery of a downtown jewelry store.
The motorcycle, which had been reported stolen, was located Friday in the 1000 block of Belmont Avenue, near Fort Street.
Officers were called to Paul Mara Jewellers on Fort Street about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday for an armed robbery.
Two men entered the store armed with weapons and took merchandise before fleeing on a black “sport model” motorcycle, police said.
Staff members received non-life-threatening injuries, but did not require treatment in hospital, police said.
The men were wearing masks, dark clothing and dark “construction style” safety vests with high visibility green stripes. One was wearing a white helmet.
The men were last seen travelling southbound on Quadra Street near Courtney Street.
No arrests have been made. The investigation continues.
Police ask anyone who recognizes the men or who has any information on the robbery to call them at 250-995-7654 or Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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Update, Thursday, July 20: Victoria police have released a photo of two men in connection with an armed robbery of a downtown jewelry store.
Police said two men entered the store, produced weapons and took merchandise before fleeing on a black “sport model” motorcycle.
The men were wearing masks, dark clothing and dark “construction style” safety vests with high-visibility green stripes on them. One was wearing a white motorcycle helmet.
The men were last seen travelling southbound on Quadra Street near Courtney Street.
Police ask anyone who recognizes the men or has information about the robbery to call them at 250-995-7654. To make an anonymous report, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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Original story, Wednesday, July 19:
Victoria police are looking for two men who robbed a Fort Street jewelry store and left on a motorcycle, leaving a trail of jewelry on the sidewalk as they fled.
Several people called 911 just before 5 p.m. Wednesday with reports of a robbery at Paul Mara Jewellers, near the Bay Centre on Broad Street.
Forensic identification officers took photos and searched the store for fingerprints.
Police spokesman Bowen Osoko did not know the value of jewelry taken and would not say whether the robbers had weapons.
Rob Simon, one of the store’s owners, said the staff was “traumatized.”
Witnesses told police the two men got on a motorcycle and drove south toward Broughton Street, then west toward the water. They were wearing black vests with green stripes and white helmets.
Police ask anyone who sees the men to call 911.
The same store was robbed in April 2012 when two men, one of them with an imitation firearm, made off with $30,000 worth of jewelry. The men ran through downtown before being arrested at the Bedford Regency Hotel an hour later.
