A swift multi-agency effort is being credited for capturing five people in connection to Saturday’s robbery at the lone Manitoba Liquor Mart in the City of Winkler.

According to the Winkler Police Service, employees of the store reported the incident to authorities around 4:34 p.m., advising that a number of suspects entered the building and stole several bottles of liquor. The employees noted one of the suspects was armed with a weapon.

Thanks to witness information, police were able to identify the suspects’ getaway vehicle, which turned out to have been previously stolen out of Winnipeg.

About 15 minutes after the call came in, around 4:51 p.m., a patrol unit with the Morden Police Service spotted the vehicle on a rural road near the City of Morden. Officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, but the suspects failed to stop and a brief chase ensued. The suspect vehicle became stuck in a ditch and members of the Morden and Winkler police services, along with RCMP officers, were able to safely apprehend the five occupants.

Upon searching the vehicle, police discovered and seized an edged weapon, a collapsible baton, and approximately 70 bottles of liquor.

As a result of this investigation, a 19-year-old male of Winnipeg was remanded in custody and has been charged with the following offences:

- Robbery with a Weapon

- Take Motor Vehicle without Owner’s Consent

- Utter Threats to Cause Bodily Harm

- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

A 17-year-old female youth of Winnipeg was remanded in custody and has been charged with the following offences:

- Robbery with a Weapon

- Flight from Peace Officer

- Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle

- Two counts of Possess Property Obtained by Crime

- Fail to Comply with Conditions of an Undertaking

A 16-year-old female youth of Winnipeg was remanded in custody and has been charged with the following offences:

- Robbery with a Weapon

- Take Motor Vehicle without Owner’s Consent

- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

A 14-year-old male youth of Winnipeg was remanded in custody and has been charged with the following offences:

- Robbery with a Weapon

- Take Motor Vehicle without Owner’s Consent

- Possess Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose

- Assault with a Weapon

- Identity Fraud

- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

- Two counts of Fail to Comply with Conditions of an Undertaking

A 15-year-old female youth of Winnipeg was released on an Undertaking with an upcoming court date and she will be charged with the following offences:

- Robbery with a Weapon

- Take Motor Vehicle without Owner’s Consent

- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

- Fail to Comply with Conditions of a Probation Order