Man charged in two separate armed robberies on Hamilton Mountain

Hamilton police have arrested a man in connection to two armed robberies that took place at separate variety stores on the Hamilton Mountain in November.

In a release Thursday, police said the robberies took place on Nov. 23 - just hours apart from one another and on the same street.

The first robbery took place at around 3 a.m. at a variety store on Upper Wellington Street. The male suspect drove up in a red SUV and parked at the side of the building. He then entered the store in a disguise and demanded money from a store clerk by telling them he had a gun.

The clerk saw a firearm, said police. The suspect was handed an undisclosed amount of cash and fled in the SUV.

The second robbery took place at around 6 a.m., when a man in a matching SUV arrived at another variety store on Upper Wellington. Once again, he told the store clerk he had a gun and took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the area in the vehicle.

There were no injuries in either robbery, police said.

Through their investigation, police identified a Hamilton man they allege committed the robberies. On Dec. 21, plainclothes officers went to a home on the West Mountain and made the arrest as the man left the house.

A 32 year-old Hamilton man has been charged with two counts of robbery with a firearm and two counts of disguise with intent. He remains in custody.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hamilton police BEAR (break, enter, auto theft and robbery) unit, Det. Const. Adam Krasulja at 905-546-8935 or Acting Det. Sgt. Frank De Vuono at 905-546-8937.

To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com