Windsor police release Rexall robbery video of masked drug thieves
It’s not worth it for the public to confront store robbers, advise Windsor police — who have released security camera video recordings of the masked man and woman who hit a Rexall location on the night of Sept. 14.
The incident was one of a spate of recent drugstore robberies involving brazen masked criminals.
“Any time anyone is in a situation where a crime is in progress — especially a robbery — our message is to simply comply with the demands,” said Windsor police spokesman Sgt. Steve Betteridge.
“Get the matter safely dealt with as soon as possible, and get the suspects out of the area.”
One daytime incident on Sept. 16 at the Shoppers Drug Mart location at 500 Tecumseh Rd. E., led to the store being evacuated after a customer tried to confront the fleeing culprits. The robbers responded to the confrontation by spraying the customer with what police believe was bear repellent.
No one was seriously hurt, but the entire store had to be cleared and several people were treated for exposure to the noxious spray.
Betteridge said the best way members of the public can help police is by calling 911 immediately and remembering as much observable information as they can: “Height and weight descriptions. Did they have a vehicle? Licence plate and direction of travel? Even if the suspect is on a bicycle, a physical description helps us.”
“No one’s life is ever worth property — something that can be simply
replaced.”
The Sept. 14 incident happened at the Rexall at 3840 Howard Ave., shortly before 9:20 p.m.
Two people with covered faces — a man and a woman — ran into the store and headed straight for the pharmacy area.
They approached an employee and demanded prescription drugs.
After taking a quantity of narcotics, the pair fled the store. They were last seen entering a white SUV, which left the area heading north on Howard Avenue. No one was hurt. One suspect was described as a white male who appeared to be 40 to 50 years old. He looked about five-foot-eight with a thin build. His hair appeared to be light in colour.
At the time of the crime, he wore a beige jacket, dark pants, black shoes, a black baseball cap, dark sunglasses and a black bandana with white designs over his face.
The other suspect was described as a white female who appeared to be in her 30s. She looked about five-foot-eight with a thin build. She had long hair and wore a dark baseball cap with a black bandana over her face.
In the security camera video, the masked female can be seen scrambling over the counter top of the store’s pharmacy.
Both robberies remain under investigation. Windsor police aren’t saying if they’re related.
Anyone with information about these crimes is encouraged to call investigators at 519-255-6700, ext. 4830.
Anonymous tips can be made via Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or www.catchcrooks.com.