Julie Proulx was on duty at the convenience store, located at the intersection of Hwy 148 and the Eardley-Masham Road in the Municipality of Pontiac. She told THE EQUITY there were several customers in the shop when a man in a baseball cap and a covid mask approached the counter and asked for a pack of Export A cigarettes.

“After I scanned it, he told me it was a hold up,” says Proulx. He said, ‘Give me the cash,’ and I said, ‘Is this a joke?’ and he said ‘No, you have to give me the money right now. I don’t want to hurt you, but give me the money.’ “And I said, ‘What, you going to shoot me?’ and he said ‘Yes,’ as he reached for what Proulx believed might be a gun under his jacket, at which point Proulx handed over the cash that was in the till.

Proulx says the man appeared to be between 40 and 50 years old, had short, slightly curly hair and spoke to her in French. Security camera footage shows the man wearing a ball cap bearing an Argentina sports crest, a light blue covid mask and a Nike jacket with stripes on the sleeves.

Proulx says when she called 911, the dispatcher told her to lock the doors and stayed on the phone with her until squad cars arrived on the scene within 15 to 20 minutes.

Martin Fournel of the MRC des Collines police says an investigation is underway. Speaking to THE EQUITY on Monday afternoon, he said they are looking for a white, French-speaking male, approximately 1.78 m tall (about 5’10”).

The police are appealing to anyone who might have seen a vehicle or anyone on foot leaving the premises just before 4:10 p.m. on Saturday to contact the police at 819-459-9911, Extension 3240, or call toll free at 1-888-459-9911.

Sue Tessier, who bought the business with her husband Eric Rainville in 2006, says the only other trouble of this sort that they’ve had in the 16 years they’ve owned: it was a late-night break-in 2011.

Security camera image shows a man in a ball cap and covid mask in the convenience store.

Police cordoned off Depanneur du Pontiac following a robbery late Saturday afternoon.

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