Albany police searching for juveniles after alleged armed robbery involving pepper spray in local bottle shop

Police are hunting for two juveniles after an armed robbery at an Albany bottle shop on Tuesday morning. A male and female entered the Liquorland store at Coles Orana about 11am. The male allegedly attempted to take two cartons of pre-mixed drinks from the store without paying but was stopped by a member of the public and a staff member. The girl, who was believed to be holding scissors, sprayed pepper spray into the store before the young pair then left the store on foot with the alcohol. The pepper spray affected four people in the store and an ambulance attended the scene to treat them. Access to the store was blocked as police carried out their investigations and detectives and forensic officers could be seen taking photos inside the store. Officers searched nearby bushland and streets in a bid to find the alleged offenders. On Tuesday afternoon Albany Detective Senior Sergeant Drew Reeder said inquiries into the whereabouts of the alleged offenders were ongoing. He said he believed the young pair had gone into the store to steal the alcohol, rather than commit a robbery, but deployed the pepper spray after being confronted by the store’s staff. “If this kind offending is to continue then police would have concerns for the safety of the Albany community,” Det Sen Sgt Drew Reeder said. Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au