A Calgary liquor store owner is recovering from the shock of being bear-sprayed by youths during a weekend robbery. Ansh Arora says he had just opened his store in the community of Legacy on Sunday morning, Ablo Liquor, when two teenage girls walked in and robbed him. “The moment I asked for the ID, what they did is just take out the bear mace and spray it on me,” Arora said. The robbery was caught on the store’s security cameras. Because of the high likelihood that the suspects are youths, their faces have been blurred in the photos posted by CTV News. Presuming they are under 18, their identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. “It was so painful,” Arora said. “I screamed for half an hour. I cried.” Arora says he was the only person in the store at the time and had to seek help from a neighbouring business. “My full face was burning, my ear, my chest, my full arm,” he said. “My whole arm was burning like hell.” Arora said he tried to block the spray when one of the females sprayed him. The suspects ran out of the store with two bottles of alcohol. Calgary police say officers were called about a theft and assault at the store, located at 240 180 Legacy Main St. S.E., at 10:15 a.m. “The investigation remains in its early stages,” police said in a statement. “Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and working to identify the two suspects.” Arora, who has worked in the industry for 11 years, says he’s never experienced anything like the recent assault. “People come by and steal things, they run away, they will push you — but nothing like the bear mace.” He says the security footage seemingly showed the two suspects at the location 13 hours earlier, scoping out the store with three other people. “One of the girls is wearing the same hoodie,” Arora said. Criminologist Kelly Sundberg says youths can easily access bear spray. “Bear spray is totally legal as long as you’re using it when you’re hiking and for protecting yourself against bears,” said Sundberg, a professor at Mount Royal University. “But when you use it as a weapon, it becomes a weapon.” Sundberg says he has heard about several reports of bear spray being used in schools amongst youths. “It is not necessarily illegal until you use it for an illegal purpose,” he said. “So, because of this, kids can get the bear spray. We’ve seen a big increase, unfortunately.” Last week, Vancouver police said incidents of youths involving bear spray have increased dramatically. The department recorded 104 cases between Jan. 1 and Aug. 15, compared to 83 during the same time last year. Sundberg suggested the increase in attacks could be linked to how easy it is to purchase. “Bear spray is a very accessible item,” he said. “Sadly, it is quite effective.” Under Canadian law, it is also illegal to carry bear spray in urban areas for the purpose of self-defence. Anyone with information about the incident in Legacy is asked to call police at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers. With files from CTV Vancouver
