Two robberies take place one hour, one block apart

Two New Waterford men appeared in provincial court in Sydney on Tuesday to face charges in connection with an armed robbery and an attempted robbery in New Waterford Monday.

Aaron Shaun Young, 29, was charged with intent to commit an indictable offence with a face masked, robbery, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and two breaches of recognizances.

Young was remanded and is scheduled to appear back in Sydney provincial court on Sept. 12.

Wilbur Bernard Woodland, 44, of New Waterford, was charged with two counts of robbery during a brief appearance in Sydney provincial court. Woodland was also remanded and is scheduled back in court Aug. 31.

At about 7:10 a.m. on Monday the Cape Breton Regional Police Service responded to a 911 call about an attempted robbery at the ATM in the Scotiabank on Plummer Ave. in New Waterford.

Christian Fraser, 44, of New Waterford was approached by two men in possession of a knife. Fraser was unable to give the suspects any money as he had forgotten to activate his card. Fraser did receive a minor injury. The suspects fled on foot from the area.

At about 8:15 a.m. the CBRPS responded to a 911 call to the Needs convenience store on Plummer Avenue, just a block away from the Scotiabank. A 59-year old male store manager and a 50-year female clerk reported a lone male disguised and with a weapon had entered the store and then fled on foot after receiving an undisclosed amount of money.

Staff Sgt. Ken O’Neill of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service said one of the accused was arrested in New Waterford Monday morning and the other Monday evening.

O’Neill confirmed a weapon was recovered by the force’s K-9 unit on Monday.

Whether or not money taken from Needs during the robbery was recovered is not known yet. O’Neill said that information cannot be released at this time, as the matter is now before the courts.