Masked man’s battery theft and car-jacking attempts land him in Vancouver jail

VANCOUVER – Vancouver police say a masked man accused of stealing a vehicle battery at a Canadian Tire store is facing charges behind bars after attempting several car jackings.

Police say the man was apparently buying the battery but as an employee prepared the invoice, the suspect stepped away from the counter and returned with a balaclava covering his face.

He’s accused of taking off with the battery, then pulling out a knife and swinging the battery at store security on his way out the door.

Police say the man tried to car jack a vehicle by attempting to pull the driver out but that the woman hit the gas, dragging the thief and striking a taxi.

The suspect then tried unsuccessfully to get into the taxi through a smashed window before jumping on the hood of an SUV that was stopped in traffic, yelling at the driver to drive off.

An off-duty officer is credited with helping to get the man off the hood and holding on to him until uniformed police arrived to arrest him.