Surrey RCMP responded to reports of masked gunmen in the parking lot of Guildford Town Centre Saturday night only to find five men “playing around” with fake weapons.
Witnesses called 911 before 9 p.m. to report a group of masked men carrying what appeared to be handguns in an underground parking lot outside of Walmart.
The group was detained at gunpoint until it was determined their firearms were fake.
“The group of males were just playing around, and could not give any legitimate reason for their actions in the parkade,” Surrey RCMP S/Sgt. M.A. Hedderson said in a statement.
Police are reminding everyone about the dangers of playing with fake guns, saying even the most highly-trained officers can have a difficult time distinguishing between real weapons and replicas.