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Police in Saskatoon are investigating two armed robberies involving bear spray, which may have involved the same perpetrators.
Both robberies happened on Wednesday. The first incident saw officers called to a business on Preston Avenue for a report of a robbery at around 9 p.m.
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“Upon arrival, officers learned that two people entered a business armed with bear spray and confronted the employee while demanding merchandise; a customer in the store intervened and the suspects fled without taking anything,” the Saskatoon Police Service said in a statement.
About 30 minutes later, police were called to a second business, this one on Central Avenue, for another reported robbery.
“Upon arrival, officers learned that two people entered the business armed with bear spray and again confronted the employee while demanding merchandise; stealing an undisclosed amount of product prior to fleeing,” the police force said.
Police said the two alleged robberies are currently under investigation, and officers believe they are related.
What is bear spray?
Bear spray is a deterrent containing capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers. The canister releases a cone-shaped cloud of spray at a speed of over 100 km/h, approximately 10 m away. Capsaicin inflames the eyes and respiratory system of both animals and humans.
According to bearwise.org, the spray is oil-based, so first aid for the bear spray is to wash off the residue with soap and water, don’t rub your eyes or nose, and rinse your eyes with clean water until the irritation subsides. The effects generally wear off in about 45 minutes, the bear awareness site says.
Late in 2024, the provincial government announced new regulations aiming to reduce the number of criminal incidents involving bear spray.
The changes include regulations to restrict the possession of bear spray in public urban spaces and a ban on altering bear spray to hide or disguise the product’s identity. Anyone charged under the new regulations could face fines of up to $100,000.
