Two arrested, charged after a dozen Winnipeg business break-ins

A break-in at a St. Vital business Tuesday night led authorities to a pair of suspects wanted in connection with a string of robberies.

Winnipeg police responded to a report of a hold-up at a business in the first 100 block of St. Anne’s Road at around 10:45 p.m. April 3.

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An employee told officers he had been robbed by a man with a gun who took off in a vehicle.

Police spotted the car, which, after a short pursuit, stopped near St. Mary’s Road and Sherwood Place. A suspect jumped out and fled, but officers were able to arrest the woman who had been driving.

She has been identified as Julie Penner, 27, from Winnipeg. She has been charged with 13 counts of armed robbery.

Multiple units were called in to track the man who ran off, including tactical support, Air1 and the K-9 unit.  They caught up with him in the first 100 block of Sunset Boulevard. A gun and money taken during the armed robbery were seized.

Craig Dorland Robert Hall, 31, also of Winnipeg faces over 100 charges:

• Armed Robbery using a Firearm X14
• Carry Concealed Weapon, Prohibited Device or Ammunition X13
• Possess Weapon X13
• Disguise with Intent X13
• Use of Firearm During Commission of an Indictable Offence X13
• Possession of Firearm, Restricted/Prohibited Weapon or Ammunition Contrary to Prohibition Order X39
• Pointing a Firearm X9

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Const. Tammy Skrabek told Global News Hall has a history of similar offences.

She said the pair appeared to target small businesses, restaurants and shops at low traffic times, mostly in the early evening hours when only one or two employees were on.

The break-ins happened at businesses all across the city, as well as in Selkirk, over a two month period:

• February 9 –  700 block of St Mary’s Road
• February 23 – 1500 block of Main Street
• March 7 – 1600 block of Henderson Highway
• March 8 – first 100 block of Main Street, Selkirk
• March 8 – 3000 block of Portage Avenue
• March 17 –  1800 block of Grant Avenue
• March 18 – 1600 block of Henderson Highway
• March 20 – 1100 block of Henderson Highway
• March 24 – 600 block of Osborne Street
• March 27 – 200 block of Henderson Highway
• March 30 – 600 block of Osborne Street
• April 2 – 2000 block of Portage Avenue

Skrabek said some of the shops were hit more than once.