COPS LINK RASH OF ROBBERIES TO DRUGS

Latest Incident at Laclie Street Gas Station

Three armed robberies at city businesses in the last week have
Orillia OPP concerned.

Last Saturday, a man attempted to rob the United Cigar Store on
Mississaga Street. Witnesses said he brandished a sharp-edged weapon.

On Tuesday, two men with guns bound and robbed a female worker at
Holistic Centre Massage in Atherley.

And, on Thursday, a man held up a Laclie Street gas station,
threatening the clerk with a firearm before taking off with some cash.

All three crimes remain unsolved, but police are confident they know
the motive: drugs.

Our thoughts are that the bulk of these are in some way related to
drugs, said Orillia OPP detachment commander Insp. Jim Szarka. I am
quite concerned.

So far this year, there have been 35 robberies in the detachment
area. Over the same period last year, there were 26.

We are definitely escalating, said Szarka, and the vast majority of
our robberies are related to drugs, and mainly crack cocaine.

He did not hesitate to say guns are being found on the streets of Orillia.

When officers are carrying out drug-related warrants, quite often
they find them, said Szarka. drugs and firearms go hand in hand.