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Passersby who tried to stop a car theft in Burnaby were assaulted but police managed to swiftly apprehend the suspect.

Around 12:20 p.m. on January 8, a car-theft attempt in the 6900 block of Buller Avenue was reported to Burnaby RCMP.

However, when three onlookers moved in to intervene as the theft was taking place, the suspect bear-sprayed them before he fled the scene.

None of the individuals who were sprayed required medical treatment.

As Burnaby RCMP happened to be in the area for an unrelated issue, they immediately located the alleged suspect and chased him on foot before he was arrested and taken into custody without incident.

Damir Mehmedovic of Surrey, 26, is charged with three counts of assault with a weapon and one count of theft.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.