NORTH BAY -- North Bay police say they have arrested a man wanted in connection to two armed robberies involving a knife last Friday.

Officials say the suspect, a 31-year-old man from North Bay, walked into a store at the Northgate Shopping Centre around 8 p.m. on Feb. 7.

The man allegedly picked up $400 worth of products before attempting to leave without paying and authorities say when an employee tried to stop him, the man held up a knife and fled the store.

Approximately 20 minutes later, police say the same man walked into another store located on Cassells Street, grabbed several items valued over $300, and again attempted to leave the store without paying.

Police say when the accused was stopped by an employee at the second store, he held up a knife again before fleeing the scene.

Officers arrested the man without incident in the parking lot of the second store.

Police say no one was physically injured in either incident.

Authorities say their investigation revealed that the same man was also allegedly involved in another similar robbery on Jan. 30 at a Cassells Street convenience store.

He now faces charges of theft under $5,000, two counts of robbery and one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The accused was released from custody on Feb. 8 and is scheduled to appear in a North Bay courtroom on Feb. 25 to answer to the charges against him.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

North Bay police say that the risk of robbery increases for businesses that handle cash, operate for extended hours or handle high-value products.

Robbery Prevention Tips

  • Provide employees with robbery prevention training
  • Maintaining and update video surveillance equipment- Quality images help to identify suspects, can aid in arrests and have a tremendous impact during court proceedings
  • Ensure you have proper lighting inside and outside your premise, proper maintenance is required
  • Reduce the amount of cash on hand by making frequent cash drops
  • Form community partnerships with other retailers, property management and police

In the Event of a Robbery

  • Try to remain calm
  • Comply with the demands of the robber
  • Tell the robber what you are doing before you do it, so that they do not aggressively react to your movements
  • Give only what you are asked for
  • Try to make note any characteristics of the robber: surfaces they touched, any weapon description and direction fled
  • When the robber has left, lock the door and call 911