Canadian Tire gun thief sought by police in Timmins, Ont.

Police in Timmins, Ont., havereleased an image and description of a man accused of stealing firearms from a Canadian Tire store and then fleeing the scene, despite a large police presence.

• Police say armed suspect gone, after day long stakeout

Police were called to the store Wednesday morning about a break-in.At the time, they believed an armed man was inside and the area was locked down.

But when OPP went into the store later in the evening, they could not find a suspect. They believe the thief escaped early in the morning, before the area was secure.

The public is being told to be cautious and report any suspicious activity.

What happened?

Investigators say an alarm went off Wednesday at about 4 a.m. at theCanadian Tire store and employees called police after finding an intruder in the building when they arrived.

Officers evacuated several other stores nearby, shut down roads and the OPP set up a broad perimeter around the store because it was believed the suspect was holed up with at least one high-powered gun.

Police said the suspect had dark hair with a thin build. He was wearing jeans, a dark top and was hiding his face with a balaclava. He was also carrying a navy school bag. At this point, police said his identity is unknown, and he remains at large.