Arrests made in grocery store robberies

The Calgary Police Service has charged four individuals connected with grocery store robberies that took place in the Calgary area between September and November, 2013.

Through the course of a five-month investigation known as Operation VOLCOM, it is alleged that a suspect orchestrated these take-over style robberies by enlisting the help of a number of associates. The robberies occurred at Family Foods, Real Canadian Wholesale Club S.E., Basha Foods, No Frills -The Box, Rob’s No Frills Airdrie, and Blair’s - No Frills.

In each of these robberies, two to four culprits, disguised and armed with guns, knives and other weapons would enter the premises at the time of closing, having knowledge of the employees working inside. They would take control of the employees, ordering them to the ground and searching their personal effects such as purses and wallets. They would then gain access information for the safe or force an employee to open it. After removing the contents, the culprits exited the store and escaped.

At Rob’s No Frills Airdrie, at closing time the culprits kidnapped the store manager. As a result they gained access to the store and emptied the safe. The manager was subsequently released without physical injury.

To date, investigators have laid the following charges:

In the robbery at Basha Foods, 2717, Sunridge Way N.E., on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, Robert VERLOOP, 45, is charged with:

Robbery

In the robbery at Robs No Frills Airdrie, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2013, Hasson WILSON, 46, faces charges of:

Robbery
Kidnapping

Charges are still pending in the robbery at No Frills – The Box.

In relation to these robberies, two men have pleaded guilty and are currently serving their term.

In the robbery at Family Foods, 116, 817 19 St. N.E. on Sept. 29, 2013, Justin MITCHELL, 31, has pleaded guilty to:

Robbery
Using a firearm in the commission of an office

Keith ALCOCK, 34, has pleaded guilty to:

Robbery with a firearm
Possession of firearm while prohibited
Possession of stolen property over $5,000

In the robbery at Real Canadian Wholesale Club, 222 58 Ave. S.E. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, ALCOCK has pleaded guilty to:

Two counts of robbery
Possession of stolen property over $5,000

In the robbery at Basha Foods, 2717, Sunridge Way N.E., on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, ALCOCK has pleaded guilty to:

Break and enter
Robbery

In the robbery at Blairs-No Frills, 10233 Elbow Dr. S.W. on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, ALCOCK has pleaded guilty to:

Robbery with a firearm
Possession of stolen property over $5,000
Dangerous driving

For his involvement in these robberies ALCOCK was sentenced to 7.7 years in custody and a lifetime firearm prohibition. MITCHELL was sentenced to three years in custody and a 10-year firearm prohibition.

As Operation VOLCOM continued, it was learned that up to 10 more businesses were being targeted for similar style robberies. It is alleged WILSON gained the co-operation of others in conspiring to commit future robberies and kidnappings at the Canyon Meadows Cinema, Real Canadian Wholesale Club N.E., and Rocky Mountain Pawn Ltd. Police have laid the following charges:

Collectively, the following men face a total of 50 conspiracy related charges which include conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, attempted kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and possession of firearms/dangerous weapons.

WILSON, Hasson, 46
WILLIS, Ivan, 53
Troy WAREHAM, 40
Jamar STERLING, 27
Abraham LATIFE, 27
Donald SCHOFFER, 38
Adam WILKINSON, 34

In the course of Operation VOLCOM, WILSON was also charged with a house break and enter that occurred on Oct. 7, 2013 in the zero to 100 block of Allandale Close S.E. where 17 firearms were stolen. Jeyte JEYTE, 29, and Abdulrizak JEYTE, 27, are also charged in the break and enter.

The Calgary Police Service would like to thank the Airdrie and Cochrane RCMP as well as General and Special Prosecutions; along with the many businesses in the Calgary area that gave their full cooperation.

The Calgary Police Service continues to investigate each of these incidents and further arrests and charges are anticipated. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: tttTIPs.com

TEXT: 274637

Case # 13418589