Iqaluit RCMP: we’ve solved five of six convenience store robberies

Sgt. Yvonne Niego of RCMP’s V Division, right, and Insp. Jason Fiddler, supervisor for the Qikiqtani Region, describe the conclusion of five of six investigations into armed robberies at Iqaluit convenience stores. The recent rash of robberies is rare for Iqaluit, Niego said. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)

The Iqaluit RCMP announced Feb. 24 that they’ve solved five of six robberies over the past four months at local convenience stores.

Police have arrested and charged suspects in connection with all but one of those incidents, which occurred between Oct. 27 to Feb. 17.

“We believe that many of the individuals involved in each of these robberies have been involved with each other in some way,” Sgt. Yvonne Niego of RCMP’s V Division said at a news conference in Iqaluit.

Niego said police could not comment on how the cases may be connected, because one of them is still under investigation.

Police believe they have put a stop to the string of armed robberies, “however there is never any guarantee,” Niego said.

Over the last two weeks, police charged three young men, one female youth and one male youth in relation to a Feb. 10 armed robbery at a Baffin Gas and Convenience store in the Plateau neighbourhood, Niego said, and an 18-year-old for a robbery at Arctic Ventures Marketplace on Feb. 17.

The recent rash of such incidents is unusual.

“Other types of crimes have come and gone, but robberies — a series of them — over so many months, this is a first,” she said.

Robbers made off with cash taken from registers in all six cases, amounting to “several thousands of dollars” in total.

They took the money by threatening store employees with physical violence, or threatening them with weapons.

Niego and Insp. Jason Fiddler, district supervisor for the Qikiqtani region, reported the dates and locations of the crimes as follows, with results of their investigations:

• Oct. 27: Apex Road Quickstop convenience store, robbed by a man with a weapon — one man charged with robbery and in custody, awaiting trial.

• Nov. 17: Baffin Gas and Convenience in city centre robbed of more than $5,000 during a cash transfer to a bank. Police charged three men with theft, Niego said. Two are in custody and one released on an undertaking. Police said no weapons were involved.

• Dec. 4: Inuksugait Quickstop convenience store, robbed at knifepoint. Police charged one man and one male youth with robbery. The man is in custody, while the youth is released on an undertaking.

• Jan. 10: Apex Quickstop robbed by a masked suspect who produced what appeared to be a firearm. Police have not found a suspect and are still investigating.

• Feb. 10: Baffin Gas and Convenience store in the Plateau subdivision, robbed at knifepoint by one suspect. Police charged three men, one female youth and one male youth for crimes related to the incident. One 24-year-old man, identified as Mason Nuqingak, is in custody on a robbery charge.

Feb. 17: Arctic Ventures Marketplace. Police charged an 18-year-old for robbery. Police said the young man did not have a weapon, but threatened an employee with violence.

Fiddler said police solved five of the cases based on “several leads.”

“Once we captured some of the evidence, it just brought up more evidence that we were able to roll into,” he said.

Police believe robbers chose to hold up certain convenience stores because of their locations, and because it’s easier to disappear back into the community, Fiddler said.

No employees from the affected stores suffered injuries, however “there are a lot of youth that work at our convenience stores,” Niego said.

Robberies can take “a huge toll mentally and emotionally on individuals,” she said. “Individuals lives were felt to be at risk.”

Robbery is an indictable offense with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, Niego said.

“With a firearm, it’s minimum four years’ imprisonment.”