16.41°C Vancouver

Jun 3, 2021 3:34 PM -

Police 'amazed' as four customers thwart armed bank robbery in Abbotsford, B.C.

Share On
police-amazed-as-four-customers-thwart-armed-bank-robbery-in-abbotsford-b-c
4 customers tackle armed bank robber in Abbotsford (Photo - Abbotsford Police/Twitter)

Police say a suspect is in custody after customers in a bank in British Columbia refused to obey orders from a shotgun-brandishing robber and tackled him.

A statement from Abbotsford police says a man entered the Scotiabank branch just before noon yesterday and ordered customers to the floor.

As he threw bags onto a counter and demanded money, police say one customer confronted him and three more stepped up. The four tackled the man, disarmed him and held him until officers arrived minutes later.

No one was hurt and Sgt. Judy Bird says a 46-year-old man is facing robbery and firearms-related charges.

Bird says police are thankful for the community support and "amazed" at the willingness of the four customers to protect others in the bank.

"As grateful as we are for this outcome, we remind the public to be aware of how volatile and dangerous these situations can be, especially with armed suspects," Bird said in a statement Thursday.

Latest news

CanadaMay 14, 2026

Ontario court sentences truck driver in crash that killed former Olympian Alexandra Paul

An Ontario court has sentenced truck driver Sukhwinder Sidhu to two years and five months in prison in connection with a 2023 crash that killed former Canadian Olympian Alexandra Paul. According to proceedings in the Orangeville court, the collision happened on Aug. 22, 2023, in a construction zone in Melancthon Township. Police and court records said Paul was returning home from her family cottage when a transport truck driven by Sidhu struck seven vehicles. Paul, a figure skater who represented Canada at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, died in the crash. Her 10-month-old child suffered a bro
BCMay 13, 2026

B.C. 911 emergency workers begin strike vote over staffing and workload concerns

Workers at British Columbia’s 911 emergency service centres began voting Wednesday on potential strike action, with the union citing staffing shortages, rising call volumes and increasing workplace pressure. The union representing E-Comm employees said staff are already facing significant mental strain as members respond to more than two million emergency calls each year. The union said the work is stressful even under normal conditions, but current staffing levels have added to the pressure on employees. A key issue in the dispute involves mandatory overtime tied to the upcoming FIFA World
two-surrey-men-charged-following-alleged-shooting-linked-to-extortion-investigation
BCMay 13, 2026

Two Surrey Men Charged Following Alleged Shooting Linked to Extortion Investigation

Two Surrey men are facing firearm-related charges following an investigation into an alleged shooting at a Surrey residence connected to reported extortion threats, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said frontline officers responded to reports of shots fired at about 12:40 a.m. on April 22 in the 13400 block of 87A Avenue. Investigators confirmed damage to a home and a vehicle. The residence was occupied at the time, but no injuries were reported. According to Surrey Police Service, the file was transferred to the department’s Extortion Response Team, which identified a suspect vehi
AlbertaMay 13, 2026

Bus rollover near Beaverlodge sends several passengers to hospital

RCMP say several passengers were taken to hospital with serious injuries after a charter bus rolled off a highway near Beaverlodge in northwestern Alberta early Wednesday morning. Police said officers responded to the crash at about 7 a.m. on Highway 672, west of Grande Prairie and northwest of Edmonton. According to RCMP, 17 people were on board the bus at the time of the rollover. Several passengers were transported to hospital, while others were assessed at the scene for minor injuries. Cpl. Mathew Howell said no fatalities had been reported as of Wednesday morning. Police have not said wha
punjab-cm-bhagwant-mann-meets-nitin-gadkari-shivraj-singh-chouhan-in-delhi
IndiaMay 13, 2026

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann meets Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari during a visit to New Delhi on Wednesday. Senior Punjab government officials were also present at the meeting. According to the Punjab government, discussions focused on National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) projects in Punjab, including several works that have been delayed. Mann said the two sides discussed steps to expedite and complete the pending projects. Later, the chief minister also met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Mann said the meeting included detailed discu

Related News