The Abbotsford Police Department (APD) has arrested a 32-year-old man for three robberies that took place in Mission and Abbotsford in 2009 and 2012.
Shaymon Webb has been charged with nine offences – three counts of robbery, three firearms-related crimes, and three counts of using a mask/disguise during an offence.
The robberies took place July 9, 2009 and March 7, 2012 at Chances Gaming Centre in Mission and on June 12, 2012 at Michael Hill Jeweller in Sevenoaks Shopping Centre.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the arrest was the result of the "relentless determination" of the APD major crime unit, with "tremendous assistance" from the Mission RCMP.
The incident in 2009 involved a man who produced a gun and escaped with cash, fleeing in a 1988 Oldsmobile that had been reported stolen from Abbotsford earlier in the day.
The suspect was dressed in black and wore a balaclava.
In the robbery at Chances in 2012, the suspect wielded a shotgun, demanded cash and then drove off in a 1987 Pontiac 6000 that had also been stolen from Abbotsford.
The incident in Sevenoaks Shopping Centre involved a gun-toting man walking into the Michael Hill Jeweller store, using a rock to smash a display case and stealing several items.
The man was wearing a hoodie and pulled his shirt up to conceal his face just before entering the store.
He ran through the mall and drove away in an older model black sedan. Police found some discarded clothing and a replica handgun in the area after the robbery.
The APD issued a public notice on Dec. 7, asking for the public's help in trying to find Webb, who was wanted for a different crime – a break and enter at a restaurant in the 33600 block of South Fraser Way.
A man had smashed the locked glass front door, jumped the counter and taken some food. Security video led police to seek Webb as a suspect in the incident, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was taken into custody the next day, was charged with break and enter, and was released on $500 bail. He pleaded guilty to that offence last week and is slated to be sentenced on April 5.
Webb is next scheduled to appear in court on the robbery charges on Tuesday, Feb. 12 and remains in custody.
He is also before the courts for theft under $5,000, related to an offence on Jan. 10.