There was less than half an hour between incidents as employees at two Sahali grocery stores were assaulted on Friday night.

Kamloops RCMP says the first incident occurred on March 8, around 9:50. “Frontline officers were called to a commercial location on the 1200-block of Summit Drive, where an employee had reportedly been pepper sprayed while trying to stop someone from stealing a cart full of groceries. Shortly after, around 10:20, police were called to the 900-block of Columbia Street, where 10 minutes earlier, a suspected shoplifter was asked to leave a store and responded with violence and what appeared to be bear spray.”

“The attempted robberies occurred in close proximity and are believed to be connected based on the investigations so far,” said Corporal Crystal Evelyn, Kamloops RCMP Detachment spokesperson. “In both cases, employees were assaulted with a weapon and merchandise was recovered, but ruined. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.”

Numerous police officers responded and patrolled the area, but a suspect was not located.

Police are releasing an image related to the Columbia Street robbery in hopes that someone from the public will recognize him and help further the investigation.

The suspect is described as a white male and about 5’5″.  He was wearing brown glasses, grey pants, a black jacket and brown boots.

Anyone who witnessed, has video, dash camera footage, or information related to these investigations is asked to please contact the Kamloops RCMP Detachment at 250-828-3000 and reference files 2025-6530 or 6535.