Man arrested for beer-vendor robberies

A man has been charged in three beer-vendor robberies late last month.

The first incident happened at the Charleswood Beer Market at 6600 Roblin Blvd. shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 21. A man grabbed items and threatened to kill an employee before getting into a taxi.

The second incident was at the Howard Johnson beer vendor at 3740 Portage Ave. at about the same time the next night. A man grabbed items, indicated to an employee that he had a gun and left in a cab.

The man returned to the Roblin Boulevard vendor on Dec. 27, grabbed items, threatened to kill an employee, left in a taxi and then did not pay for part of his fare.

In each of the three robberies, the man stole two cases of alcohol valued at $120. All of the robberies were recorded on security cameras.

The major crimes unit began investigating, and a 40-year-old man was arrested Wednesday, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a news release Friday. He has been charged with three counts each of robbery and uttering threats and one count of fraudulently obtaining transportation.

The man, who was detained in police custody, was already facing three charges, including robbery with violence and theft under $5,000, from late November. His convictions in Manitoba, dating back to 2005, include possession of a firearm, fraud under $5,000, theft under $5,000, counterfeiting, drug possession and many counts of failing to comply with conditions.