Police urge vigilance after string of muggings
Most are ‘crimes of opportunity’ against victims aged 14 to 23
Police are warning the public to be vigilant after eight people were mugged in the city’s south end in the past three weeks.
Police are investigating whether the muggings were linked, but the descriptions of the robberies are varied: Five were at gunpoint, one involved a knife and the suspects used violence in one other case.
In most of the muggings, the suspects were described as black men between the ages of 16 and 22. In a robbery near Uplands Drive and Hunt Club Road on Oct. 31, the suspect was described as a white man.
Most of the muggings have been “crimes of opportunity” against victims between the ages of 14 and 23, said Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Michael Haarbosch of the robbery unit.
Haarbosch said the victims walked by a group of men, were alone in a secluded area or were using their cellphones.
“It goes back to being mindful of their surroundings, not travelling in these areas by yourself, particularly after dark,” Haarbosch said.
The string of muggings began on Halloween around 8:40 p.m. near Margrave Avenue and Zaidan Drive.
A man and his two friends were accosted by two suspects after they walked by a group of men.
One of the suspects pulled out a handgun, while the second man searched the victim.
‘It goes back to being mindful of their surroundings, not travelling in these areas by yourself, particularly after dark.’
MICHAEL HAARBOSCH
Ottawa police staff sergeant
The suspects got away with a cellphone and candy.
Less than an hour later, a man stole a woman’s purse near Cahill Drive and Albion Road while a group of five to 10 men stood nearby. The suspect was wearing diamond earrings.
At 10:30 p.m., a man was circled by a group of men on Celtic Court.
The victim tried to run, but he was caught, assaulted and robbed of his cellphone.
A short time later, at 11:40 p.m., two women were waiting for a bus near Uplands Drive and Hunt Club Road when three men surrounded them.
One of the men pulled out a handgun and demanded the women’s cellphones.
On Nov. 2 at 5:45 a.m., three men were surrounded by four suspects near Bridle Path Road and Crosscut Terrace.
One of the suspects showed the victims a gun and demanded their cellphones.
The next day, a man was approached by a gun-wielding suspect around 1:55 a.m. near Flannery and Springland drives.
The suspect stole the victim’s cellphone as another man stood nearby.
On the same day, a 23-yearold man was restrained by one suspect on a footpath near the Lorry Greenberg Community Centre around 7:45 p.m. while a second suspect searched the victim.
A third suspect brandished a knife and demanded the victim’s cellphone, but the suspects got away with nothing.
Anyone with information can call the Ottawa police robbery unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5116.
For tips on personal safety click here: http://ottawapolice.SafetyAndPreventionTips/ PersonalSafety/PersonalRobberiesSwarmings.