Editor’s note: The suspect photos have been removed from this story as their identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
RCMP arrested five 12 and 13-year old youth Tuesday after an attempted theft and altercation at CrossIron Mills Thursday Oct. 26.
Airdrie RCMP said the suspects were found “as a result of numerous tips from the public” and arrested at three places in Calgary—including a school—with help from local officers.
Police say the investigation is continuing; RCMP believe there may be more suspects involved.
In a news release Friday afternoon, police said four teenage suspects were in the food court at the mall north of Calgary when two of them attempted to steal a tip jar from a food vendor.
They said an employee from another shop witnessed the attempted theft and intervened when a third suspect knocked that employee to the ground. A fourth shot bear spray at the employee and a shopper, who also tried to stop the suspects.
Police said the suspects ran from the mall and left in a silver Hyundai Elantra with an Alberta license plate BVV0131. They said that vehicle had previously been reported stolen. It had yet to be recovered as of Thursday morning.
According to the original news release, six people were treated by EMS for exposure to bear spray and another 20 people, including children, were affected by the contamination of the air.
Police believe the same suspects were involved in a theft from the Tommy Hilfiger story in the same mall earlier that night.
In a news release Thursday RCMP said one 13-year old male has been remanded into custody and will appear in Calgary Provincial Court Nov. 3. A second 13-year-old male and two 12-year old males have been released from custody and have a Nov. 9 Airdrie Provincial Court date. A third 13-year-old male has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Airdrie Provincial Court Nov. 16.
All of the accused youth have been charged with robbery, possession of stolen property and two counts of assault with a weapon.
CrossIron Mills is about 20 kilometres north of Calgary
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Airdrie RCMP at 403-975-7276 or Crime Stoppers.
With files from Erika Tucker
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