At approximately 5:15 a.m. this morning, city police received a 911 call regarding a robbery that had just occurred at the Metro Store in the Market Mall.
A lone male attended in the store and stole the cash register drawer from the female clerk. A male employee chased the suspect out of the store. The suspect threw the cash register drawer at the male and threatened to hurt him. Neither employee was physically harmed. The suspect continued to flee the area.
Another customer arriving at the store spoke to the employee and pointed out a vehicle that he had observed the suspect get into. The vehicle was leaving the parking lot.
Several police vehicle were on their way to the call. One of the cruisers observed a vehicle hit a snow bank on Second Line West, quickly leave the area and head north on Farwell Terrace. These officers decided to check this vehicle out. They observed the vehicle turn onto Rossmore Road and strike another snow bank. Officers approached the vehicle and confirmed this was the suspect from the robbery. The stolen money was located with the suspect.
27-year-old Justin Whalen of no fixed address was taken into custody and has been charged with one count of robbery and one count of breach of probation for failing to keep the peace and be good. He will be appearing in bail court this morning.
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Just before 6 p.m. last evening, city police received a report of a break and enter. A homeowner on Stevens Street returned home and discovered their home had been broken into. The break in occurred during the day time hours and jewellery was taken.
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Update: Officers located the vehicle just before 2 a.m. in the P-patch.
Earlier release: On the 19th of February at 7:45 a.m. police attended and took a report of a stolen vehicle from the 100 block of Grosvenor Ave. Stolen sometime overnight was a 1997 GMC black pickup truck with Ontario Licence #AE26556. Anyone with information is to contact city police.