Masked robber inadvertently reveals face

The robber of a gas station in Windsor tried to hide his face with a reusable shopping bag — but he didn’t realize a security camera was recording when he momentarily removed his disguise. The robbery happened on Monday night shortly before 9:20 p.m. at the Esso station at 2900 Howard Ave.

The surveillance camera recording obtained by police shows a man about the enter the gas station building wearing a black shopping bag on his head — with holes cut into the bag so he can see. However, the suspect pauses and pulls off the bag — possibly due to the presence of a customer in the gas station. In the robber’s moment of hesitation, he briefly reveals his face.

A few minutes later, the man returns with his bag disguise back in place.

The gas station’s employee said the robber approached the counter, brandished a sharp object similar to a pair of scissors, then demanded cash and cigarettes. After obtaining money and cigarettes, the robber fled the business and was last seen heading south on foot.

On Tuesday night, around 8:30 p.m., patrol officers were responding to an unrelated call in the 2800 block of Howard Avenue when they noticed a male standing outside a business.

Recognizing the man as a suspect in the previous night’s robbery, the officers arrested him and found quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl on his person. Police also located items they suspected were stolen from the gas station.

Mark Carriere, 47, of Windsor, now faces charges of robbery with a weapon, wearing a mask or disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, possession of stolen property, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.