A convenience store clerk stood her ground against a masked man who pointed a firearm and demanded she “empty the till” on Monday night (May 4) in Chilliwack.
Padmore’s Quick Shop employee Jennifer Burnside said she didn’t feel threatened that he would shoot her.
“I told him to take his mask down before I could serve him but he refused and said he had COVID.”
As soon as she turned her back, that’s when he pulled out the firearm, or replica handgun, and told her to open the till and give him the cash.
Burnside replied: “No” and then she repeated simply: “No, it’s not happening.”
He ended up running off empty-handed, after she hit the security button.
“There isn’t much that scares me,” Burnside said the day after, saying she wasn’t rattled by the experience. She said she simply decided she wasn’t going to let anyone rob the family that works so hard to run the store.
The store owners posted security footage, and are asking the community for assistance in identifying the person who walked in wearing a mask, but appears with his face uncovered in the clips they posted online.
The man can be seen approaching the till, and pulling out and pointing what appeared to be a firearm, demanding cash from the employee.
“We’re asking the community for help. If you recognize this individual or have any information, please reach out.”
Police said it appears the individual was acting alone.
“I can confirm that Chilliwack RCMP frontline officers responded to a report of an alleged robbery at a store on Menzies Avenue last night at approximately 8:50 p.m.”
No injuries were reported.
“Chilliwack General Investigative Support Section has taken over the investigation.
“A lone individual is suspected to be involved in this incident, and investigators are working to identify this person. If the public has any information they are encouraged to contact the Chilliwack RCMP.”
Anyone with information can contact the non-emergency police line at 604-792-4611, quoting police file 2026-18291.