Police on Vancouver Island are searching for two suspects after a pair of armed robberies targeting convenience stores in the community of Campbell River. The local RCMP detachment says the first robbery occurred at the Gas N Go store in the 3600 block of South Island Highway just before 11 p.m. on July 22. The second robbery was reported at the Circle K in the 300 block of Rockland Road at 3:16 a.m. on Aug. 4. In both cases, investigators say a masked woman brandished a pistol while she and a male accomplice robbed the store clerk. Authorities believe the same two suspects were involved in both robberies. No one was injured in either incident, police said in a news release Thursday. Investigators are asking residents and business owners in the areas to check their security cameras for evidence of the suspects. Police are also asking business owners to ensure their late-night employees follow secure cash-handling procedures and check that alarms and security systems are functioning properly. The recent robberies follow an earlier string of break-ins reported in the community, wherein two suspects are believed to be responsible for breaking into at least three businesses in the city’s downtown core. Two other break-in attempts were thwarted but caused significant damage to the targeted businesses, police said. Anyone with information related to the robberies is asked to contact the Campbell River RCMP at 250-286-6221 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
