Regina man charged after jewelry store robberies

A 21-year-old Regina man is facing charges after a string of jewelry thefts in the city last year.

According to Regina police, the first incident occurred Feb. 18, 2022, when officers were called to a robbery in progress at a store in the 4100 block of Albert Street. They were told a man wearing a mask had entered the store and asked to see expensive jewelry, before pointing a gun at staff and taking off with the merchandise.

Eight days later, police were told a man tried to sell the same jewelry at a pawn shop, but fled without the items.

Police said the same script played out at a store in the 400 block of Albert Street North on March 7 of last year, and a similar robbery occurred May 10 at a store in the 2900 block of Gordon Road.

According to police, the same man was a suspect in a break-and-enter that occurred Nov. 19 at a store in the 1800 block of Scarth Street. In that incident, a glass front door was smashed and merchandise was taken from the store.

The police investigation led to the 21-year-old suspect, who was arrested Tuesday and charged with four counts of wearing a disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of theft over $5,000, and one count each of robbery, use of an imitation firearm during commission of an indictable offence, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, trafficking of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and break, enter and commit theft over $5,000.

He was to make his first court appearance on Thursday.