Mayor says capital city still safe, despite three robberies in one week

A9

By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
CANADAEAST NEWS SERVICE

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FREDERICTON - The Fredericton Police Force doesn't think the person who held up the Goody Shop with a weapon Wednesday is the same individual who robbed two convenience stores and a donut shop on the north side Sunday and Monday.

"It's still under investigation," said police spokesman Const. Ralph Currie yesterday. "The investigators are aggressively following up some leads.

"There are some commonalities among the northside robberies. There does not seem to be the same commonalities with the Goody Shop."

A white male in his 20s is the suspect in the armed robberies of the Main Street Tim Hortons on Sunday night just before midnight, the Main Street Esso on Monday at 4 p.m. and the Ultramar on Union Street on Monday evening. The Goody Shop was robbed late Wednesday afternoon.

Police haven't released a description of the suspect in the Goody Shop robbery.

Currie said after the Ultramar robbery, police officers visited all the nearby gas station convenience stores to issue a warning.

"We did have officers who went around to other convenience stores in the area just to advise the employees of the description we did have of the suspect," he said.

Currie said store employees were told to call the police if they see anyone fitting the description and acting suspiciously. He said store workers were told to take note of any details regarding such an individual but not to try to apprehend the suspect.

"It was a protective call for them," said Currie. "Never do anything to put yourself in harm's way. Never resist. Always comply."

Despite a spate of robberies in the capital, Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said the city is safe.

"This is very unusual in terms of the number of incidences," Woodside said yesterday.

"We are, as a municipality, taking it very seriously and putting a tremendous amount of manpower and resources toward apprehending the individual or individuals who committed these crimes."

While police can't always comment publicly on the details of their operations, he said he is assured that the force is being proactive.