Thief pepper sprays three people, drives off from parking lot in their SUV

A meeting in a parking lot to talk about the sale of an SUV turned into a pepper-spray vehicle theft Saturday night.

A couple drove their Santa Fe to a parking lot of Save-On Foods at 1210 Summit Drive about 10 p.m. to meet a man interested in buying the vehicle. The male owner of the vehicle was showing it to the prospective buyer as his wife spoke with a family friend when suddenly the man pepper sprayed all of them, jumped in the Santa Fe and took off.

The three victims were treated at the scene for effects of pepper spray.

The stolen vehicle is a silver 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe with B.C. license plate 958ATP.

Cpl. Cheryl Bush said today (Nov. 20, 2016) the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact Kamloops RCMP or call Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous.