Knife and bat-wielding ‘skeleton’ robs beer store

An individual wearing a hooded skeleton costume and brandishing both a knife and a bat has robbed a beer and wine shop on Vancouver Island.

Photo: RCMP

The masked robber entered Harewood Arms Beer and Wine on Eighth Street in Nanaimo on Saturday (30 September) at around 10:40pm and, threatening staff with both a knife and a baseball bat, began banging on the counter and demanding money.

The two clerks working in store at the time handed over an undisclosed amount of cash and upon receiving the money, the suspect fled the scene and was last seen running towards nearby Howard Avenue.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that they are looking for a man believed to be between 5ft 6 and 5ft 9 of medium build who was last seen wearing a black gown, white shirt, gloves and a skeleton mask.

Constable Gary O’Brien of Nanaimo RCMP confirmed that no customers were in the store at the time of the robbery and no-one was injured, but added that for the staff working at the time, “it would be quite terrifying to say the least”.

O’Brien added that the bat and knife were recovered and that the RCMP believe the man had a getaway vehicle parked nearby. Both officers and a police dog were unable to locate the suspect.

He continued: “It was well planned out. The chances of them doing it before are probably fairly high”.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP on 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers on 1-800-222-8477.