Arrests made in ambush-style store robberies

CTV Calgary: Charges laid in armed robberies Calgary police have arrested several people in connection to numerous armed robberies at Calgary grocery stores. Bill Macfarlane with more.

Police have laid dozens of charges against several people in connection to the alleged planning and execution of a series of take-over style robberies at a number of businesses in the city.

The five month investigation, labeled Operation VOLCOM, looked into robberies at Family Foods, Real Canadian Wholesale Club S.E., Basha Foods, No Frills -The Box, Rob’s No Frills Airdrie, and Blair’s - No Frills stores between September and November, 2013.

Police allege that a suspect orchestrated take-over style robberies at the businesses by enlisting the help of a number of associates.

Investigators says two to four culprits, disguised and armed with guns, knives and other weapons would enter the premises at closing time and take control of the employees inside.

The say the offenders then ordered the employees to the ground and searched their purses and wallets.

They then gained access information for the safe or forced an employee to open it, removed the contents and fled the premises.

Police say the store manager at Rob’s No Frills in Airdrie was kidnapped at closing time and that the suspects then gained access to the store and emptied the safe. The manager was later released without physical injury.

The following charges have been laid in relation to these incidents:

Robert Verloop, 45, is charged with:

Hasson Wilson, 46, is charged with:

Justin Mitchell, 31, has pleaded guilty to:

Keith Alcock, 34, has pleaded guilty to:

Keith Alcock was sentenced to 7.7 years in custody and a lifetime firearm prohibition.

Justin Mitchell was sentenced to three years in custody and a 10-year firearm prohibition.

Police say charges are still pending in the robbery at No Frills – The Box.

Police found out that up to ten more businesses were being targeted for similar style robberies as the investigation unfolded.

Police allege Wilson gained the cooperation of others in conspiring to commit future robberies and kidnappings at the Canyon Meadows Cinema, Real Canadian Wholesale Club N.E., and Rocky Mountain Pawn Ltd.

“There’s certainly one criminal mastermind and that was Hassan Wilson. A very charismatic individual, who somehow managed to talk a numerous amount of people into committing serious crimes,” said CPS S/Sgt Mark Rahn. “I don’t know how he gathered all these individuals but over the course of a lengthy investigation, we observed him involved with several different groups of different individuals who it appeared as though he was grooming them to commit crimes.”

Police have laid a total of 50 charges including conspiracy to commit robbery, attempted robbery, attempted kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and possession of firearms/dangerous weapons against:

Justin Wilson was also charged with a house break and enters that happened on October 7, 2013 in the zero to 100 block of Allandale Close S.E. where 17 firearms were stolen.

Jeyte Jeyte, 29, and Abdulrizak Jeyte, 27, are also charged in the break and enter.

Calgary police continue to investigate these incidents and say more arrests and charges are anticipated.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

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