Police seek suspects in violent robbery

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying four men who robbed a southeast Calgary cellphone store last month.

Police said the four suspects forced their way into a locked Telus store at 33 Heritage Meadows Way S.E. around 6:40 p.m. on Nov. 26.

The men assaulted two staff members and threatened them with a weapon. The employees both sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspects filled bags with Apple products before leaving the scene, police said.

The Calgary Police Service robbery unit is now seeking information from the public to determine who was behind the crime. They released descriptions of the four men involved.

One man is thought to be 19 or 20 years old and five feet five inches or five feet six inches tall. He has a stocky build and a highpitched voice, and was wearing a puffy grey jacket.

A second suspect is thought to be 19 to 21 years old and six foot two.

The purchase of phones obtained through crime perpetuates the theft and robbery cycle.

He has a slim build and is clean-shaven, and was wearing a grey hoodie and dark grey sweatpants.

The final two suspects are both described as between five foot eight and six feet tall with slim builds.

“Cellphone store robberies are concerning for staff, customers and our communities, especially when offenders threaten or harm citizens,” CPS Det. Stephen Horton said in a news release Thursday.

“Our priority is ensuring public safety, and we are constantly working with store owners to implement crime prevention measures to help deter criminal activity and ensure their spaces are safe.”

Cellphones offered for sale online may have been stolen, especially if they are being sold at below-market prices, police said. Buyers can check this by visiting devicecheck.ca and inputting the phone's identification number.

Police said the online market for stolen phones perpetuates violent crimes like the one at the Deerfoot Meadows Telus store.

“Buying a phone that you think could be stolen may not seem like a big deal, but you run the very real risk of paying for a phone that you won't be able to use since stolen phones usually end up blocked by all networks,” Horton said.

“Not to mention the purchase of phones obtained through crime perpetuates the theft and robbery cycle.”