A 26-year-old man is facing multiple charges after allegedly attempting to rob a person at knifepoint at a Kitchener bus stop before stealing merchandise from a nearby store less than an hour later, Waterloo Regional Police said.
According to investigators, officers were called to the area of Strasburg Road and Ottawa Street South shortly after 10 p.m. on July 12 following reports of a robbery at a bus stop. Police said the victim told officers they had been approached by an unknown man armed with a knife, who demanded they hand over their belongings. The victim was not physically injured, and no property was stolen after the suspect fled the scene.
Approximately 35 minutes later, police received a report that a man had stolen various items from a nearby retail store on Ottawa Street South. Officers quickly located and arrested the suspect in the area without further incident.
Following the investigation, a 26-year-old man was charged with:
- Robbery
- Theft under $5,000
Police have not released the identity of the accused, who is expected to appear in court at a later date.
Investigators believe the same suspect was responsible for both incidents, which occurred within a short distance of each other on the same evening.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service has not disclosed whether the knife allegedly used in the attempted robbery was recovered or whether the suspect remains in custody. Authorities also have not released details about the items stolen from the store.
The investigation remains ongoing. Police are asking anyone who witnessed either incident or has dashcam or surveillance footage from the area of Strasburg Road and Ottawa Street South around the time of the offences to contact the Waterloo Regional Police Service or provide anonymous information through Crime Stoppers
