Penticton pawnshop owner no pushover; stands up to would-be armed robbers

PENTICTON – A Penticton pawnshop owner stood his ground in the face of a robbery yesterday afternoon, fending off two suspects wielding a baton and bear spray.

Quick N Easy Pawnbroker’s Darren Hafftor says he reacted immediately when he saw two men burst through the rear entrance of his store Monday afternoon, Jan 30.

"When I looked at them, they were covered hoodies up and face covered. I knew something was going to happen. I yelled at them and told them ‘you might not want to do this,'" Hafftor says. "I don’t know whether or not they heard me, but they came storming at me and I knew I had to go and grab my bat."

Hafftor says one of the men took a swing at him and missed, after which he was pepper sprayed by the other.

“Then the other guy came around the cabinet and started smashing the glass,” Hafftor says.

He held his ground, waiting to see if the man was going to come any closer so he could take a swing at him.

“The guy took three swings at my counter glass (with the baton), then ran out the front door,” Hafftor says, adding the suspects didn't get away with any merchandise.

Hafftor says he didn’t recognize either of the would-be robbers.

"I think they thought I would back down with the pepper spray but I didn’t,” he says.

He was hit with a continuous shot of bear spray to the face.

“I guess my adrenaline was going, but (the pepper spray) came into effect afterwards. My eyes and nose was burning, and it’s still bothering me today,” he says.

RCMP continue to investigate the incident, with one man in custody.

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