Surrey Mounties have arrested seven Surrey people for robbery and are looking for an eighth suspect in connection with three violent jewelry store robberies in Surrey and Burnaby.

Robbers armed with hammers and machetes robbed two North Surrey pawnshops in May. In one case, a clerk was doused with lighter fluid.

Police estimate $50,000 in losses. "This was an organized goal-oriented group that had no regard for public safety and displayed reckless behavior putting innocent people's lives at risk," said Insp.

Wade Lymburner, of the Surrey RCMP property crime section. A jewelry store in Burnaby was also robbed.

Some items stolen from the Surrey pawn stores have not been recovered. These include a Harley Davidson gold belt buckle worth $3,000.

Charged with robbery, and disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, are Surrey residents Jordan Boucher, 26, Kevin Campbell, 25, Jeffery Greenwood, 27, Raymond Hawse, 39, Phuong Thi Le, 21, Anthony Nguyen, 20, Sonny Nguyen, 19, and Bobby Prasad, 37.

At press time police had yet to arrest Greenwood.

He's described as white, six feet tall, 165 pounds with blue eyes and a tattoo of a dog on his neck.

Police ask anyone with information to contact Const. Khan at 604-507-5940.

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