BARRHEAD-Barrhead RCMP are still looking for the person involved in an armed robbery of a Main Street business.
At about 10:40 a.m. March 18, a man brandishing a firearm robbed Apollo Jewellers. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Barrhead RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds said the suspect was wearing a mask and was described as having an average build and dressed in all black clothing. He exited the store via the back door and is then believed to have escaped using a waiting car with a significant amount of jewellery and other merchandise.
"Unfortunately, we don't have a lot more to go on than that," he said, adding he is hopeful a member of the public might have seen or heard something that might help identify the suspect.
To help aid in the search for the suspect, as well as to find potential evidence, police also utilized an RCMP dog handler unit.
Dodds also issued an alert via the Barrhead Area Regional Crime Coalition (BARCC) system in hopes of finding the suspects whereabouts and to "alert the public about a heightened police presence downtown."
BARCC is a partnership between Woodlands County, the Town of Barrhead and the County of Barrhead, as well as the Barrhead RCMP and Rural Crime Watch.
It was formed in the spring of 2018, in part, due to discussions Peace River-Westlock MP Arnold Viersen had with all parties around initiatives to combat rural crime.
Other Barrhead area crimes
There were also three B&Es reported in the area from March 11 to 17.
In a media release, Dodds stated that on March 12 where a suspect entered a downtown business stealing a tip jar. They entered the building by smashing the glass door. The same day, an individual broke into a Barrhead industrial building and stole several cables.
Another B&E was reported to taken place at a rural property sometime since Jan. 29. In this incident, thieves broke into a trailer and a sea can and stole a generator, a welder and several propane tanks.
On March 17, police also received a report that a 2006 burgandy Mitsubishi Endeavour (with the Alberta licence plate CGK8993) was taken from a Barrhead residence. The vehicle is still missing.
Another vehicle was stolen in Barrhead. On March 15, Dodds said a 77-year-old man reported that his truck had been stolen.
"Fortunately, the truck had a GPS tracker and it was located a few hours later by Mayerthorpe RCMP," he said. "The two, who are well known to police, were found in the truck drinking beer when they were arrested."
As a result of the incident, a 53-year-old male and a 39-year-old female, both from Barrhead, face several charges including possession of stolen property and breaching a previous no-contact condition.
