Burnaby RCMP have shed more light on a heavy police response to what was originally described as a reported break-in Thursday morning.
Police are now saying the incident officers were responding to was a reported home invasion.
Just before 11:30 a.m., police attended a home in the 7900 block of 15th Avenue, according to a police news release Thursday evening.
“The complainant reported that two men, believed to be carrying weapons, were in the residence,” stated the release. “Once on scene, police immediately surrounded the home and safely evacuated a female occupant from a suite in the house. The woman had been physically restrained and bound by the suspects, who were believed to still be inside.”
Police closed off 15th and 16th avenues between Sixth and Fourth streets.
Officers using a loudspeaker ordered the suspects to surrender. At least one flashbang grenade was deployed.
The Emergency Response Team and Police Dog Service assembled.
The ERT’s armoured vehicle was brought to the scene.
The team finally moved in at about 2:10 p.m., but found no suspects inside, according to media spokesperson Cpl. Brett Cunningham.
The woman was uninjured.
Burnaby RCMP has now released descriptions of the suspects along with images.
The witness described one suspect as a short Black man with a slender build, wearing all black clothes and a light coloured mask.
She described the other suspect as a tall Black man with a heavy build, wearing all black clothes and a light coloured mask.
The suspects fled the scene in a white five-door SUV with a spare tire on the rear door, according to police.
They got help from an unknown driver and passenger, according to police.
The passenger is described as possibly Caucasian, tall with a slender build and wearing dark clothing and a light coloured mask, but there is no description for the driver of the vehicle.
Police are continuing to investigate and are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999. To remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.solvecrime.ca.
