Car theft at Market Mall sparks police chase

A Calgary police officer was almost run over Wednesday while investigating a stolen car at the Market Mall.

Mall security called in a report of a suspicious person to police. When officersarrived atthe mall's parking lot at about noon, they sawthe suspicious man getin to a green Hondathattheydiscoveredhad beenstolen.

"One of our officers did get an eye on the vehicle, followed it, attempted to do a traffic stop, get the occupants out of vehicle after it had stopped. A little bit of a scuffle had ensued at that point," Const. Lara Sampson said.

The suspect and another man inside the car tried to run over the officer, but missed.

The vehicledrove off, with police giving chase on foot. But in their haste, theculprits smashed the car into a fence near the mall, whereupon they jumped out and fled on foot through the northwest Varsity neighbourhood.

Policekept chaseand brought inthe canine unit,but the pair managed to elude capture.

Officers foundmerchandise inside the smashed carthat they believe was stolen from another vehicle in theparking lot. Policesaid it's possible the men spent time prowling the Market Mall's lot looking for goods to snatch.

Vehicle break-ins traditionally spike during the holidays, when packages are often left visible, police said.

"People really have to be careful about what they leave in their vehicles. Anything of any value that's in sight, people will go after. It's become a rash here," Sampson said.

One of the suspects is described as Caucasian, about 35 to 40 years old, five footseven inches tall with a stocky build. He had grey, scruffy, shoulder-length hair and facial stubble.

The other man is said to beCaucasian, 40 to 50 years old with a slim to medium build. He had thinning, collar-length hair and was wearing a reddish ski jacket.