Serial robbery suspect charged

(Ottawa) — The Ottawa Police Service Robbery Unit has charged a single suspect in connection to a series of five recent robberies.

Bank robbery-October 9, 2015 at 12:55 pm – 400 block of Bank St

Retail robbery (Pharmacy) – October 11, 2015 at 10:26 am – 400 block of Bank St

Retail robbery (Fast food establishment) – October 11, 2015 at 5:57 pm -1500 block of Woodroffe Ave.

Retail robbery (Fast food establishment) – October 12, 2015 at 11:10 am – 600 block of Bronson Ave.

Retail robbery (Bus terminal) – October 13, 2015 at 9:40 am- 200 block of Catherine St

Suspect attended the locations and indicated at the robberies he had a gun. None was ever seen. The suspect verbally made demands for cash and in some instances, threatened the employees. In each of the first four robberies, the suspect fled with undisclosed quantities of cash. In the last, the suspect fled empty-handed. There were no injuries in any of the five robberies.

On October 14, 2015, the suspect was arrested without incident after being located along Arlington Avenue by a uniformed patrol officer.

John THILLMAN, age 35 of Winchester, is charged with the following offences in connection to all five robberies:

Five counts of robbery

Five counts of carrying a concealed weapon

Five counts of possession of a weapon in the commission of an offence

Three counts of uttering threats

Thirteen counts of breach of recognizance

John THILLMAN was the subject of an August 11, 2015 Ottawa Police media release after being charged in relation to a series of nine robberies. He was released from custody and was bound by the conditions of a recognizance during the latest series of robberies.

THILLMAN appears in court on October 15, 2015.

Anyone with information with respect to these robberies, or any other robbery, is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Robbery Unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5116. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or by downloading the Ottawa Police iOS app.

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