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Walmart robbery likely not connected to COVID-19, RCMP

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Airdrie's Walmart, on Main Street, was the location of an armed robbery March 12. File Photo/Airdrie City View

Airdrie RCMP is still investigating a March 12 armed robbery at the Walmart on Main Street, and don’t believe the incident is related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The robbery occurred at 9:05 a.m., when four masked suspects smashed the display windows in the electronics department before fleeing the scene with stolen merchandise in a black sedan.

However, even as "panic-buying" continues at shopping malls and grocery stores around Alberta, the RCMP does not believe the brazen robbery is connected to the outbreak.

“It would be difficult to speculate on that, and I’d be cautious [of linking it] because electronics are not related to something like this,” said RCMP K Division Media Relations Officer Cpl. Deanna Fontaine. “If it was toilet paper, water or something that was a necessity, you could consider that a connection, but for this, I wouldn’t be making that connection.

“Ultimately, you’d have to ask the offenders themselves, and nothing else would come out in court, in terms of motive.”

A video of the incident, recorded by a witness, was posted to the Airdrie Engaged Facebook page March 13. The video showed four perpetrators, clad head-to-toe in either black or grey, stealing items from the electronics department while bystanders watched on in shock. The suspects’ faces were covered, but they each wore running shoes.

The video shows one bystander step in to sweep away a hammer that had been used by the perpetrators to smash the glass.

According to RCMP, an update will be provided when further information becomes available.

“There’s nothing to update at this time, and it remains under an active investigation,” Fontaine said March 17.

Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.

Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19



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