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Thief threatens staffer with knife

Bicycle chase of armed thief ill-advised, says man’s employer
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When a thief on a bicycle tried to flee Chance Mains' place of work with two jackets

When a bicycle-riding thief tried to flee with two $300 jackets during a parking lot sale at the Pacific Boarder sporting goods store in South Surrey, 20-year-old staffer Chance Mains commandeered a bike from a store for-sale rack and gave chase.

Mains, an Ocean Park resident, narrowly escaped injury during the recent struggle with the fleeing thief, who produced a knife and began slashing at Mains after he managed to catch up with the crook and knock him off his bike.

“I kind of launched off my bike and tackled him into the grass,” Mains told Peace Arch News Wednesday. “He said, ‘Take your jackets, leave me alone.’ Then he pulled out a knife.”

Mains said he was initially able to knock the knife – a “hobby knife” with no more than a two-inch blade – out of the man’s hand by grabbing his wrist and “dragging” it against the concrete, but the thief then regained the knife and, waving it wildly, got away.

“I really lucked out,” Mains said.

Seconds later, police arrived on the scene and quickly arrested a suspect.

Reaction to Mains’ chase has been mixed.

“My boss called me an idiot and told me not to chase crackheads any more,” Mains said.

His family and friends, Mains added, have told him that what he did was brave but foolish and should never, ever be repeated.

A 25-year-old man has been charged with theft and assault with a weapon in connection with the Oct. 9 incident.



Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I’m the guy you’ll often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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