Barrie police say a keen-eyed detective noticed a man at a local off-ramp who was wearing clothing similar to that worn by a thief in a recent robbery, leading to the suspect's arrest Tuesday morning.
The accused is also alleged to have been responsible for a robbery on Dec. 18, 2023 in which a Batman disguise was used. He fled the store on foot after stealing change from the store’s cash register, police said at the time. Reports also indicated he was armed with an axe as he ran westbound from the store.
Since December 2023, city police have been investigating four robberies that occurred at convenience stores located just west of Bayfield Street in an area bordered by Glenwood Drive and Cundles Road West.
Shortly after 10 a.m. on Oct. 8, police say the suspect was taken into custody at the Highway 400 northbound off-ramp to Bayfield Street after an officer recognized the clothing he was wearing was "identical" to what was being worn by a suspect during a recent hold-up.
The 42-year-old man, of no fixed address, was transported to Barrie Police Headquarters and now faces 15 criminal charges, including robbery, weapons offences, uttering threats and failing to comply with probation orders.
Police say the man is responsible for a rash of robberies between Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 and Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.
Three of these robberies occurred at the same convenience store, located in a retail plaza on Cundles Road West near Bayfield Street, while the fourth occurred on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 at a Glenwood Drive convenience store.
In two of the robberies, the now accused wore a disguise, police say, including one in particular as the "infamous caped crusader Batman" on Dec. 18, 2023.
The accused has been held in custody and is scheduled to appear today for a bail hearing, by video, at the Barrie courthouse.
