Two in custody after 10-day city-wide robbery spree

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Two men are facing charges after an armed robbery spree in Winnipeg that police said targeted multiple lounges and other businesses with dangerous weapons, police announced Friday.

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Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) spokesperson Const. Stephen Spencer said that between Jan. 1 and Jan. 10, officers responded to multiple reports of commercial robberies at hotels and licensed establishments, including restaurants and bars, throughout the city.

According to police, during the robberies, masked suspects were armed with a handgun and bear spray, and in one instance police say a victim reported seeing a hand grenade.

The suspects demanded VLT money and/or cash from the employees at the establishments, police said.

Police said no victims were injured in the robberies, but that 10 lounges and one retail store in Winnipeg were robbed between Jan. 1 and 10, including establishments on St. Mary’s Road, St. James Road, Osborne Street, Pembina Highway and Main Street.

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Police said general patrol officers began the investigation before turning it over to the Major Crimes Unit.

“As a result of the combined efforts of all involved, a 41-year-old male suspect and a 33-year-old male suspect were identified,” police said.

On Jan. 14 around 10:09 a.m. members of the WPS Tactical Support Team conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Fort Street and Portage Avenue, and took a 41-year-old suspect into custody without incident.

Later on Jan. 14 around 5:28 p.m., police say the Tactical Support Team conducted another traffic stop, near the intersection of Ellice Avenue and Langside Street, and took a 33-year-old suspect into custody without incident.

Police say they also found a “personal quantity” of methamphetamine on the 33-year-old suspect during the arrest.

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Around 8:40 p.m. on Jan. 14, the Major Crimes Unit executed a search warrant in the 600 block of Furby Street, seizing several items in relation to the robberies, including various weapons, WPS said.

The two men are now charged with a long list of criminal charges including multiple counts of armed robbery using a restricted firearm or prohibited firearm, disguise with intent, theft under $5000, and robbery and possession of property obtained by crime under $5000.

Both are in custody.

Anyone with information regarding any of the incidents is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 204-986-6219 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers 204-786-TIPS or winnipegcrimestoppers.org.

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