An Abbotsford man who was among five people charged a year ago with the robbery of a gas station and convenience store has pleaded guilty.
Harveer Gill, 23, was originally charged with armed robbery but pleaded guilty on Monday in Abbotsford provincial court to the lesser charge of robbery.
A date for sentencing has not yet been set.
Five people were arrested on Nov. 24, 2010 after police were called about a robbery in progress at a gas station in the 5600 block of Riverside Road.
The group wore balaclavas and carried guns. They were unable to access the cash register and took only some food before fleeing in a van.
Witnesses who were driving by provided descriptions and the location of the suspect vehicle – a 2002 grey Dodge Caravan – which was found by police in the 3400 block of Elkford Drive.
Arrested were Gill; a 22-year-old woman, Kiran Devi Sharma; and three 17-year-old boys.
Charges were later stayed against Sharma. The youths cannot be named and their records cannot be accessed, due to provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The robbery was the third similar incident in Abbotsford in a one-week period. The two other robberies occurred at a video store in the 30500 block of Blueridge Drive and the following day at a restaurant in the 32400 block of George Ferguson Way.
In both cases, a group of four or five people burst into the businesses and were wearing dark clothing, gloves and balaclavas. In one robbery, they carried handguns.
No suspects were charged in the first two incidents.