Halton Hills teen charged after two armed robberies

Halton Police have arrested two teens-- one from Halton Hills-- in connection with two armed robberies Thursday (Feb. 1) that marked Milton's seventh and eighth hold-ups in the past month. Just after 12:30 a.m., a male suspect entered the Rabba Fine Foods at Derry Road and Trudeau Drive, police said. The suspect brandished a handgun and demanded cash from the clerk. After receiving a small amount of money, along with cigarettes, he fled. The 49-year-old male clerk wasn't injured. A dark-coloured, four-door sedan was seen speeding away from the area. Just before midnight the same day, a 20year-old man answered a knock at the door of the Main Street home he shares with his family. Police said he was confronted by two masked men. He tried to close the door on them, but the men forced their way inside. One man produced a handgun and ordered the victim to be quiet. A scuffle followed, but the victim was quickly subdued, police said. The suspects stole some DVDs, a knapsack and a small amount of cash and fled the house. The victim wasn't injured. A canine search of the area was conducted, but the suspects weren't immediately located. On Friday (Feb. 2), a 17-year-old Halton Hills male was arrested in connection with both robberies. Police recovered a pellet gun as well as clothing allegedly worn during the robberies. He was charged with two counts each of robbery, breach of probation, wearing a disguise, possessing weapons and break and enter. A 15-year-old Milton boy was arrested in connection with the home invasion. He was charged with robbery, break and enter and wearing a disguise. Det. Sgt. Peter Hodgson said Halton Regional Police have formed a task force to deal with the rash of recent robberies in Milton. So far, charges have been laid in connection with four of this past month's armed robberies. "We're confident we're moving in the right direction," he said.