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A would-be thief was slow off the mark this weekend when he tried to run off with $20,000 worth of stuff.

He was stuffing bags full of gear from a downtown sporting goods store around 8 a.m. on Sunday Two Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Police Department (VPD) constables were patrolling along Robson and Howe streets, according to a police press release, and investigated a tripped alarm at the store.

"When the officers arrived to investigate, they allegedly saw a man inside the store filling bags full of property," writes the VPD in the release. "The suspect saw the officers and tried to run, but he was arrested nearby when other VPD officers intervened."

If he'd gotten away the gear was probably going to end up on the black market says Sgt.Steve Addison.

“Downtown retailers have already endured so much during the pandemic, with many struggling to stay afloat and others having to reduce staff to make ends meet,” he says in the release, noting instead the stolen goods have been returned.

The suspect, a 37-year-old man with no fixed address, is facing multiple charges from the incident. He was already a wanted man from two previous break-and-enters.