Edmonton robbery linked to B.C. gang: Police

The robbery of a jewelry store in Edmonton is connected with an Indo-Canadian criminal gang in British Columbia, Edmonton police say.

A suspect, 20, turned himself in to police in Burnaby, B.C. on Sept. 28, after a Canada-wide warrant was issued. The man, a Vancouver resident, is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Oct. 19.

Police credit help from the media and the Indo-Canadian community in effecting his arrest.

On, Sept. 7, two men entered R.K. Jewellers in a strip mall on 92nd Street and 34th Avenue in southeast Edmonton about 4:30 p.m., police said.

The two "violently attacked the lone female clerk, striking her several times with a handgun. She was dragged to the back of the store, tied up, [and] one of the suspects maintained watch while the other suspect removed a large amount of jewelry, " said Staff Sgt. Howard Kunce of the Edmonton Police Service.

The woman was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital, suffering from facial injuries.

"The drug trade plays a big part in what's happening here and what's happening in B.C., and this seems to be a pipeline." Det. Ron Gamble, Edmonton Police Service

Police believe the robbery is connected with an Indo-Canadian gang in Surrey, B.C. that's involved in the drug trade. "We believe at this point in time the name of the gang is called the South Slope," said Det. Ron Gamble.

"The drug trade plays a big part in what's happening here and what's happening in B.C., and this seems to be a pipeline. They go to B.C and in this particular case probably got rid of the jewelry and exchanged it for drugs and now back into Edmonton selling those drugs."

Police are asking for the public's help to find the second suspect in the robbery.