Stolen goods used as weapons in grocery-store robber’s escapes

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This article was published 16/03/2023 (1260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Winnipeg man has been arrested following a series of grocery-store robberies in which stolen merchandise was used as a weapon that allowed him to escape.

Winnipeg police said Thursday the spree began with the theft of an unlocked vehicle with the keys inside from a parking garage in the first 100 block of Donald Street sometime before Tuesday at 8 a.m.

Police said a suspect went to a grocery store in the 1600 block of Kenaston Boulevard at about 7:50 a.m., where he stole merchandise and, when staff confronted him, swung the stolen property at them before fleeing in the stolen vehicle.

A few hours later, at about 5:40 p.m., the suspect, with his face disguised, went into a grocery store in the 2100 block of Pembina Highway and stole groceries, again swinging stolen property at employees who confronted him before he fled.

The suspect then went to a gas station in the 700 block of Pembina Highway, filled up the stolen vehicle and fled without paying at about 7:15 p.m.

Three hours later, at about 10:10 p.m., the suspect went to a grocery store in the 200 block of Marion Street, again with his face disguised, and punched an employee in the face before fleeing with groceries.

RCMP in the Beausejour area spotted the stolen vehicle speeding a few hours later at about 1:40 a.m., stopped the driver and arrested him.

A 20-year-old man has been charged by Winnipeg police with several offences, including three counts or robbery, two counts of disguise with intent and stealing a motor vehicle, while RCMP have charged him with speeding, careless driving and driving without a licence.

He is in custody.

— Staff