The Coquitlam RCMP is crediting the quick response of its Prolific Target Team (PTT) for nabbing a suspect just moments after he allegedly committed an armed robbery.
Just after 7 p.m. on Feb. 17, a man entered the D Video store on Clarke Road and, armed with a knife, robbed the store of a cellphone and $592.
He didn't get far, however, as a store employee immediately called the police, who happened to have a prolific offender team nearby when the robbery occurred. The Mounties quickly arrested the suspect and recovered the phone and all of the stolen money.
Michael Clifford Collins, a 29-year-old resident of the B.C. Interior, has been charged with robbery and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Collins was wanted for an outstanding warrant in Salmon Arm at the time of his arrest.
"Robberies are dangerous crimes and can easily turn violent," said Cpl. Scott Grimmer of PTT in a press release Thursday. "So anytime we can arrest a robbery suspect this quickly without anyone getting hurt and recover everything that was stolen it is a very good story for us."
Collins is due to appear in court on the charges today (Friday, Feb. 25).
