Ottawa police are looking for help from the public as they investigate an alleged armed robbery in Barrhaven.
On Sunday evening (Aug. 9), the Ottawa Police Service received a report stating there had been a robbery in the area of Berrigan Drive and Beatrice Drive. It was claimed that a sale had been arranged through Facebook Marketplace and that during the transaction a suspect produced a handgun and took an item from the victim, police said in a news release on May 12.
The investigation was continuing, and police asked anyone who was in the area between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and may have dashcam or other video, to contact the OPS robbery unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 2655. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ca.
It was the second Ottawa police incident report of the week that focused on an armed individual being involved in a sale arranged through Facebook Marketplace.
On Monday, Aug. 10, police reported that shots had been fired that morning during an alleged attempted robbery on Beaverwood Road.
According to police, a seller had arranged online to meet a prospective buyer outside a financial institution. During the meeting, a male, who police identified as a young offender, allegedly attempted to rob the seller and pointed a firearm.
Two shots were fired during the incident, but no one was hit by a bullet, although the victim suffered minor injuries, police said. They said three people — a security guard, the victim and an off-duty police officer — took the suspect into custody.
The suspect was transported to CHEO for minor injuries he received during the arrest, police said.
An Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesperson said a teenager had suffered blunt force trauma and was taken to hospital in stable condition.
A firearm was recovered and one person was taken into custody.
In a release about the Monday incident, police reminded Ottawans to consider using a Safe Trade Zone when completing in-person transactions through online marketplaces. Safe Trade Zones are designated parking spaces at select Ottawa Police Service facilities.
Police provided a link to view Safe Trade Zone locations and safety tips.
A number of safety tips are provided for residents at the site, along with the following five Safe Trade locations:
466 Metcalfe St. (visitors’ parking lot behind 474 Elgin St. police station)
211 Huntmar Dr. (Kanata police station)
245 Greenbank Rd., Nepean (Greenbank police station)
4561 Bank St., Gloucester (Leitrim police station)
3343 St-Joseph Blvd. (Orléans police station)
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