A set of armed robberies dating back to 2010 now has a prime suspect. Gerald Gilbertson, 40, has been charged with one of the offenses.
The allegation must now be proved in court, but prior to his arrest, police had reason to believe the same man might have been responsible for at least five similar incidents of armed robberies at convenience stores in Prince George.
Early on Tuesday police presented the public with the list of these incidents, plus multiple surveillance photos of the suspect. It took less than 24 hours of media coverage before the public was calling with information which led investigators to Gilbertson.
He was taken into custody without incident, said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass, and his first court appearance is scheduled for today.
The single charge against Gilbertson pertains to the alleged robbery of a Queensway convenience store on Sunday at 3 a.m. A knife-like weapon was allegedly produced during the episode, and a small quantity of cash was obtained.
Police are now checking the clues from each of the other incidents to see if connections to Gilbertson or some other suspect emerge.
