Calgary, AB,
11
March
2020
|
09:50
America/Denver

Charges laid following convenience store robberies

Six youth have been charged following a string of convenience store robberies that occurred on Monday night. Calgary Police Service investigators are still working to determine if these incidents are related to previous convenience store robberies that have been occurring in our city.

Between 6 p.m., on Monday, March 9, 2020, and midnight on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, we responded to five convenience store robberies and one robbery of a citizen walking in a residential area. In each store robbery, offenders threatened the victims with weapons and stole cash, vape products, cigarettes and various other items before fleeing the scene. During the robbery of the citizen, offenders bear sprayed and assaulted the victim before stealing his phone and wallet.

Weapons used included a firearm, brass knuckles, pepper spray, knives and an ice pick. The robberies occurred in the communities of Temple, Pineridge, Whitehorn, Martindale and Panorama Hills.

Police were able to quickly determine that the same offenders were likely responsible for all of the robberies and that in multiple instances a stolen GMC Acadia had been seen fleeing the area.

Officers flooded the area and located the stolen vehicle in northwest Calgary. Police used HAWCS to follow the vehicle to a residence located in MacEwan, where six suspects entered the residence.

Our Tactical Unit contained the residence and successfully took two female and four male youth, aged 14 to 16, into custody, in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 10, 2020.

Detectives collected a significant amount of evidence and while the investigation into previous similar incidents is ongoing, all six youth are now facing charges in relation to Monday night’s incidents.

Charges include robbery with a firearm, occupying a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen property over $5,000.

Police would like to thank citizens and store clerks for their cooperation and assistance with this very dynamic investigation.

Additional charges are pending.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be left anonymously using Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

APP: P3 Tips

Case #20102751/4375