The Liquor Mart Express at 1385 Sargent Avenue (HANDOUT)
Three boys are facing armed robbery charges after a Winnipeg liquor store was held up Thursday evening.
Police say all three teens entered the store in the 900 block of Jefferson Avenue at around 8:30 p.m. One of them grabbed two bottles of liquor and ran towards the exit, while a second suspect pointed a silver handgun at employees. All three suspects fled on foot and no one was injured.
Police located the teens in the 100 block of Mapleglen Drive, where they also recovered the stolen bottles of liquor and an imitation handgun.
A 14-year-old, 15-year-old and 17-year-old boy face several charges and remain in custody.
Manitoba Liquor Marts have reported a spike in thefts in recent months. In a statement earlier this week, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries said it has security guards stationed in a number of Winnipeg Liquor Marts, but their role is to observe, detect and deter theft, not to physically intervene.
“Our security guards and staff are trained to approach people they think may be stealing, speak with them, and discourage them from leaving the store with the product; a method that is usually successful with the traditional shoplifter. It is our understanding that a policy of non-violent crisis intervention is the norm at retailers across the country,” the Crown corporation said.
In the past 12 months, MBLL says it has seen a loss of approximately $775,000 related to theft. That accounts for about 0.2 percent in total sales.
