Police forces in Guelph and York have arrested and charged two people with over 85 charges in connection with armed robberies in cell phone and camera stores in Guelph and Aurora.
A third person is in police custody on unrelated charges but police say he will be charged for his part in the armed robberies.
It was in June, when two men entered into the Source store on Woodlawn Road in Guelph. According to police, employees were tied up, while two men with masks cleaned out the electronics including cellphones.
A similar incident happened at a camera store in Aurora in May. Constable Michael Gatto says that these were very serious robberies.
“I mean these men used a gun, they pointed it at the employees of the stores, and they locked them in a room.“
Nakeem Johnson, 23, and a woman Patreece Lall, 21, are charged with over 85 charges, including forcible confinement and armed robbery. Police say Lall wasn’t inside the stores during the robberies.
A 28-year-old male, who is not named yet, is also in custody facing charges. All three were arrested yesterday in the Toronto area.
After the arrests, police say they seized stolen products and a 40 calibre handgun they believe was used in the robberies.
Employees working at the Source won’t comment on the arrests but the news comes as a relief to the operator of the neighboring store, Palmer’s Dry cleaners, Vivian Loney.
“It was extremely disturbing. I have a plant full of women that work here and the fact that they're out there walking around with guns was very disturbing.”
Loney says she's thrilled charges have been laid.
“Rob me with a pencil go ahead but with a gun, it’s very disconcerting.”
Guelph and York Regional Police say their joint investigation of the robberies continues.
