A shot was fired early Tuesday morning as a suspect fled on foot after using a large pickup truck to smash through the south entrance of Pine Centre Mall, Prince George RCMP said.
An on-duty security guard who went to check the scene was unharmed. RCMP did not say whether the shot was fired at the security guard or into the air as a warning.
The suspect is described as a male who was wearing a black hoodie, dark blue jeans, white and grey shoes and a white mask.
The pickup is a white Ford F-350 four-door with dual rear wheels and a flatbed deck. Police believe the vehicle was stolen.
Exactly what the suspect intended to do once inside is not known, Prince George RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass said.
"We're gathering evidence," he said.
Other than stores with their own outside entrances, the mall was closed for the day. RCMP were called to the scene just before 4 a.m.
In February 2014, thieves drove a stolen sport utility vehicle through the same entrance and then kept going until they smashed through the secured gate at a jewelery store. They made off with an undisclosed amount of jewelry and no arrests have ever been made in connection with that incident.
Anyone with any information regarding the latest incident is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300, or can make tips anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). Tips can also be made online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca or texted to CRIMES (274637) using the keyword "pgtips."
