Two Surrey men are behind bars after Burnaby and Coquitlam RCMP cooperated in an investigation into three violent convenience store robberies that took place earlier this month.
The crime spree began in the early morning of Nov. 3 when two men entered a convenience store on Austin Avenue in Coquitlam. One of the men allegedly brandished a knife and threatened to harm the store employee. The duo fled after taking cash, cigarettes and bottled drinks from the store.
The second robbery happened at another convenience store on Austin Avenue in Coquitlam. One of the men allegedly brandished a knife again and they fled after robbing the store of cash, e-cigarettes and lighters.
The third robbery occurred at another convenience store in the 9600 block of Cameron Street in Burnaby. The pair allegedly brandished a knife and assaulted the store employee before fleeing with several packages of cigarettes.
"These robberies quickly got our attention as the level of violence was escalating. Seasoned investigators from both Burnaby RCMP Strike Force and Coquitlam RCMP Robbery Section got together to develop, implement and execute an operational plan. In about two and a half days, the suspects were identified and arrested without incident," stated Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung in a press release.
The two Surrey men, 18 year-old Joshawa Hall and 25 year-old Anthony Colgan, are now each facing the following criminal charges:
Three counts of robbery,
Two counts of unlawful confinement,
Assault causing bodily harm,
Assault with a weapon, and
Uttering threats
Both men have been held in custody since their arrest on Nov. 5 and are due back in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court on Dec. 11.
Police say the successful apprehension is the result of RCMP officers from two cities working together.
