Calgary police have charged two people in connection with a series of violent robberies in Calgary.
Police say 49 pharmacy robberies were reported between September 2020 and March 9, 2021.
In a release, the Calgary Police Service said that several groups of people are thought to be responsible for the robberies, some of which have caused “significant harm” to employees.
“Innocent members of the public were being robbed at gunpoint and in some cases physically assaulted,” Staff Sgt. Kurt Jacobs said. “We will find those responsible for causing this harm.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe at work and in the community.”
On Monday, police arrested four people thought to be involved with at least six of the robberies.
The suspects were arrested during the search of two downtown apartments — one in the 1000 block of 10 Street Southwest and the other in the 1000 block of Sixth Street Southwest — and two homes in northeast Calgary — one in the 0-100 block of Savanna Common Northeast and the other in the 0-100 block of Savanna Park Northeast.
During the searches of the properties, police said the following items were seized:
- $1,850 cash
- Handgun with a prohibited magazine
- Airsoft handgun
- Bear spray canisters
- Knives and machetes
- Clothing, including balaclavas, believed to have been used in the robberies
- Pharmaceutical products
- Six cellphones
- Three vehicles were also seized for further search pending the application of a search warrant
Of the four people police arrested, only two were charged.
Parampreet Dhaliwal, 19, is charged with six counts of robbery with a firearm, six counts of disguise with intent and one count of assault with a weapon.
He is scheduled to appear in court on April 16, 2021.
Additionally, a 17-year-old male — who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — has been charged with three counts of robbery with a firearm, three counts of disguise with intent and six counts of breach of probation.
He is scheduled to appear in court on April 12, 2021.
‘We have fear in our mind’
At Calgary Drug Mart, owner Tariq Fareeby was pleased to hear of the arrest but he’s still in the process of increasing security at his stores.
“We are still a little bit scared; we have fear in our mind,” Fareeby said. “It takes time to go away.”
Two of his pharmacy locations were targeted by thieves but he said that his staff are starting to feel a bit safer.
“It’s good news. At least they’ve caught some people and I’m assuming they will catch more robbers too,” Fareeby said.
Calgary police release photos of suspect in March 9 pharmacy robbery
As Calgary police continue to investigate an increase in pharmacy robberies, they have released photos of a man thought to be responsible for one in the community of Rundle on Tuesday.
Police said a pharmacy in the 5102 block of Rundlehorn Drive Northeast was robbed at around 3 p.m.
“During the robbery, the suspect brandished a metal rod and began to swing it around while demanding opioids,” police said.
The employee received minor injuries.
The suspect is described as being five-foot-ten and weighing 180 pounds, wearing a black winter jacket, blue jeans, dark pants and white gloves.
Anyone with information on the ongoing robberies targeting pharmacies – or the identity of the man involved in the Rundle robbery — is asked to call the Calgary Police Service’s non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
– With files from Global News’ Jenna Freeman
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