Police are optimistic the number of robberies will drop in the Kingsway-Edmonds neighbourhood after Burnaby RCMP arrested seven teenagers believed to be behind the violent incidents.
Between Oct.1 and Nov. 30 there was an increase in personal thefts, which police described as “violent street robberies,” believed to be committed by a group of teenage boys. The thieves worked as a group, approaching solo victims who they would then rob “of their personal belongings, such as cell phones, purse or backpacks,” noted a press release from RCMP.
"In some instances, the victims were punched, and at times the suspects used weapons during the robbery,” said Cpl. Daniela Panesar, spokesperson for the Burnaby RCMP, in the release.
One such incident happened around 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 22, when a woman was robbed of her cell phone while waiting for a bus at Kingsway and Edmonds Street. RCMP dispatched a police dog team to try and pick up the suspect’s scent, but that was unsuccessful.
Today (Friday), Burnaby RCMP announced it had identified and, over a three-day period, arrested the seven boys they alleged committed the thefts. The suspects were taken into custody and released on “strict conditions,” noted the press release.
The suspects are scheduled to return to court at a later date, at which time police expect they will be formally charged for several criminal acts. In the meantime, the investigation into the rash of robberies continues. Investigators anticipate more suspects will be arrested in the coming days, noted the release.
“These incidents were disturbing and extremely unsettling for the victims,” Panesar said. “Equally unsettling is the fact these suspects are teens, around 16 to 17 years of age. It is believed the teens were negatively influenced by the more sophisticated adult members of the group and to that end, the Burnaby RCMP will be engaging with key community partners who have been identified as having a positive influence over the youths.”
Anyone with information about the robberies or who may have been a witness to such an incident is asked to contact Burnaby RCMP’s strike force investigators at 604-294-7922 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
