Spike in armed robberies prompts RNC to create special investigation

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has made two arrests in connection with an armed robbery at a St. John's deli and convenience store Monday evening.

• Breen's Deli armed robbery surveillance video released
• Armed man robs Breen's Deli in St. John's

The robbery occurred at the Breen's Deli location on Portugal Cove Road around 5 p.m. Monday. No one was injured in the incident.

Crystal Warford, 32, and Clarence Lindy Fields, both of St. John's, have been charged in connection to the crime.

Fields and Warford are facing a charge of robbery.

Warford is alleged to have been in possession of a gun, and had her face concealed during the robbery. She's also accused of breaching court orders.

The two will be back in court Thursday for a bail hearing.

15 armed robberies in November

Warford was also charged in connection with a robbery at Needs Convenience on Military Road on Nov. 15.

• RNC seek help identifying woman who may have info on downtown robbery

This armed robbery is the second at the same Breen's location this month.

A man with his face covered entered the deli carrying a firearm Nov. 2 and coerced the clerk into giving him cash from the register, before fleeing on foot.

Meanwhile, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary held a news conference Tuesday on an increase in armed robberies this month.

RNC Const. Steve Curnew said there have been 15 armed robberies on the northeast Avalon in November alone.

More charges to come

In response, a major case management team was set up and involved many resources and different factions within the RNC.

Since the formation of the team, a number of arrests have been made including Warford and Fields.

There are other outstanding armed robberies, but Curnew said it's anticipated additional charges will be laid in the coming days to other people in custody.

"We're going to analysis video. Take a look at other evidence we have in other outstanding crime and it's a matter of sitting down and comparing descriptions and all that type of stuff before we can link these crimes together," Curnew told reporters Tuesday.

He said drugs are usually a factor in armed robberies.