Regina robbery stats steady

Numbers ‘virtually unchanged,’ police say

Robbery reports keep popping up in the news, but the Regina Police Service (RPS) says numbers are in fact down.

“There are actually fewer robberies in Regina this year than last year, and fewer than the five-year average,” said Elizabeth Popowich, spokeswoman for the RPS.

According to reports released at weekly RPS trend meetings, there were eight robberies this week. Last year — in the same period — there were seven.

To date this year, 160 robberies have been reported, in comparison to 161 for the same period in 2015.

Over the past five years — from Jan. 1 to Aug. 23 — the total average of robbery reports is 168.

Popowich said the numbers aren’t substantially lower, and they remain “virtually unchanged.”

Statistics include reports of robberies inflicted on people, in homes, taxis and businesses.

Some robbery reports from Aug. 1 to Aug. 24:

Aug. 4, 1:53 a.m. — Police were dispatched to the report of a robbery at a business in the 2000 block of Coleman Street. A lone male suspect entered the business with a weapon and demanded cash.

The suspect exited the business with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was injured.

Aug. 5, 2:45 p.m. — A woman was robbed of her purse on 5th Avenue and Pasqua Street. The suspect fled on a bicycle. The victim was not injured.

Aug. 13, 4:41 p.m. — Police were sent to the report of a street robbery on the 4200 block of Dewdney Avenue. A female victim was approached by an unknown male and female.

The female suspect stole the victim’s MP3 player and left on foot. The victim caught the female and retrieved the device.

The victim was then assaulted by the two suspects, and transported to hospital for minor injury treatment. The suspects fled the scene.

Aug. 24, 7:21 a.m. — Police attended a business on the 6200 block of Rochdale Boulevard.

A female entered the site with a gun and demanded money. The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured.

Aug. 24, 9:14 p.m. — Police were dispatched to a report of a male entering a business on the 100 block of Broad Street North. The male suspect demanded money and jumped the counter.

He stole cigarettes and left without cash. The victim was pushed and suffered minor injuries.