Attacks on shoppers at 2 Calgary malls triggers security review

Chinook Centre is reviewing its security protocols after two people were robbed at gunpoint outside thesouthwest Calgary mall, shortly before anattempted carjacking at a northeast shopping centre that could be linked, according to officials.

Calgary police are looking for two suspects in connection with the robberies that happened within minutes of one another on the east and west sides of Chinook Centre.

An apparent carjackingtook place about one-and-a-half hours later at Marlborough Mall in the northeast.

Police say the descriptions of the alleged carjackers matches those of the armed robbers.

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Chinook incidents

In the first incident, a woman told police she was approached by a man outside the Pottery Barn store on the east side of the mall, shortly after 10 p.m.

The man took her purse after striking her in the face with the gun, police say. She was not seriously injured.

About 10 minutes later, a man was robbed of his wallet on the west side of the mall, police say.

"After any incident, such as those that occurred on Dec. 13, we review our security protocols and adjust as needed," said Paige O'Neill, a spokesperson for CadillacFairview, which owns Chinook Centre.

O'Neill says the mall supplements its security complement throughout the shopping centre during the holiday period.

Marlborough incident

Then about 11:30 p.m., a man and a woman were approached in a parking lot in the 3800 block of Memorial Drive N.E.by two men who asked for the time.

When the coupleignored them,one brandished a handgun and the other tried to open their car door. They drove off before the men were able to get inside.

The description of the two men is similar to that of the men suspectedin the robberies at Chinook Mall.

AMarlboroughMall spokesperson said the incident is being investigated and referred questions to Calgary Police.

Shopper Montana Wright said the incidents will prompt her to take more precautions when she goes to the mall at night.

"I think I'll definitely be, like, more wary of where I park ... and my surroundings and stuff. I usually try to be, but this will just heighten it," she said.

Police are looking for two suspects:

• Black male wearing camouflage pants, a camouflage jacket and ahoodie. He had a slim build and was approximately six feet, two inches tall.
• Black male wearing a black and navy bluehoodie, and glasses. He was about five feet, 11 inches tall with a medium build.

Police are expected to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon about the robberies.