Police pooches sniff out suspects after Winnipeg convenience store robberies

Winnipeg police are praising the efforts of their dogs after canine units helped track down suspects in two separate convenience store robberies.

In the first case, police were called to investigate a robbery ata convenience store on AutumnwoodDrive near Cottonwood Road at 7 a.m. Saturday.

A store employee was assaulted and later sent to hospital during the robbery; three people stole anundisclosed amount of money and merchandise.

Officers used a canine unit to track downthree menage 26, 33 and 35 at an apartment in the area. All three were arrested and charged with robbery-related offences.

On Sunday, police againwent to a convenience store after a robbery was reported, this timeon Cavalier Drive near Hillary Crescent at 2 a.m.

Aman with a weapon who concealed his identity confronted the lone employee at the store before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

A police canine unitled officers to a property on Hillary Crescent where they found and arrested a 22-year-old man.

He was taken into custody and charged with robbery and disguising with intent.

"This is just another incident that highlights the benefit we have [with] our canine unit," Const. Jay Murray said at a Winnipeg news conference Monday morning.

"Without canine, I don't know that we would've been able to take this male into custody."