CREDIT: Nicki Corrigall, The Ottawa Citizen

Lawrence Krauss, who had a gun pointed at him during a Rideau Mall robbery yesterday, was still able to deliver his speech after being awarded an honorary doctorate in science from Carleton University

The armed jewelry thief waved a gun in Lawrence Krauss's face, but all he could think about was: "Don't shoot me, I've got an honorary degree to accept."

Mr. Krauss, a physicist who received an honorary doctorate of Science at Carleton University's convocation ceremony yesterday, was one of dozens of people caught up in a dramatic jewelry store robbery at the Rideau Centre and a high-speed police chase across the city yesterday afternoon.

It ended with three men in custody -- one tackled by a Rideau Centre security guard, and two others caught by police after they had abandoned the getaway car near Clyde Avenue and Merivale Road and tried to flee on foot.

Ottawa police say the robbery occurred when three masked men armed with loaded guns walked into the busy store on the shopping centre's third level at about 1:30 p.m. They pointed their pistols at customers and staff, ordered the staff to the floor and began smashing display cases with a hammer.

They were done within seconds, making off with a bag full of high-end jewelry and watches -- one watch alone had an estimated value of $25,000.

A witness outside the store who saw the robbery called police and Rideau Centre security.

Some people mistook the sound of the glass cases shattering for gunshots, but no shots were fired, police say.

As the three men, in their mid 20s to early 30s, fled, one was stopped by a female security officer.

"As they were running out of the Rideau Centre, one of the Rideau Centre security employees tackled the guy," said Sgt. Greg Brown of the Ottawa police Major Crime Unit, adding "there were a lot of punches thrown.

"The security officer was assisted by another colleague and there was a violent struggle to take that person into custody."

That suspect was taken to the Ottawa Hospital to be treated for his injuries.

The two other men, with guns and bags in hand, ran to their getaway car -- a stolen grey Dodge Spirit with Quebec licence plates -- which was parked nearby. The car roared down Nicholas Street, then headed west on the Queensway.

Police say almost half their fleet was deployed to chase the Dodge, which exited on Maitland and headed south to Clyde, hitting several cars while attempting to snake through the double lanes.

The suspects ran into traffic at a red light near the CJOH-TV building and slammed on the brakes. They were locked in, with traffic snarled in front them and more than 20 police cruisers closing in from all directions. They bailed from the car and ran, leaving the vehicle in gear, which continued on for another block and a half until it hit another car.

Sherri Soullière, 35, was walking her dog along Clyde Avenue when the two men jumped from the car at the corner of Clyde and Starwood Road, two blocks south of Merivale. When she saw the pursuit, she followed the suspects as they ran two blocks north to Mr. Lube store, jumped a fence and ran through several backyards. One suspect, Mrs. Soullière said, even tried to stroll casually along Baseline Road to trick officers into thinking he was just a passerby.

"I saw him exit the backyard and go on to the sidewalk," she said. "And then as soon as he heard me yell 'there he is' to the officers, the guy went back behind another house."

Police chased the men and caught them hiding in backyards between Granton Avenue and Baseline Road. Two pistols and a bag of jewelry was found nearby, police said.

In all, the suspects' vehicle were involved in three separate accidents during the chase, but there were no injuries, police say.

Mr. Krauss, who a few hours later accepted an honorary degree at Carleton, was shopping in the Rideau Centre with his wife, Kate, and daughter, Lilli, 18, when he stumbled upon the robbery in progress.

His wife and daughter ran for safety, but Mr. Krauss was still standing there when three armed men ran out of the shop. One pointed a gun at him and made eye contact for a fleeting moment.

Mr. Krauss said he was shook up by the experience, but was still able to deliver his address at Carleton.

Mr. Krauss, a Carleton graduate, grew up in Toronto and is now chairman of the physics department at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

"I've lived for 25 years in the States and that's never happened," he said.

Meanwhile Sabah Alfred, manager of the Jubilee Fine Jewellers, and fellow employees were stuck cleaning up the mess the robbers left behind. Still shaken from the incident, Ms. Alfred was thankful no one was hurt.

"Yes, we are fine, thank God," she said.

As for what could have prompted the men to hold up a jewelry store in a busy shopping mall on a Saturday afternoon is still a mystery to authorities and to personnel at the Rideau Centre. Two or three stores near Jubilee closed for a couple of hours while police collected witnesses statements.

Cindy VanBuskirk, director of marketing and leasing at the Rideau Centre was at the scene moments after the robbery.

She said while no one was injured, it was "an extremely upsetting incident" for staff and customers.

"This is not something you expect to see in a mall every day," Ms. VanBuskirk said. "From Rideau Centre management point of view, the most important thing is the suspects were apprehended and everyone is OK."