Calgary Police confirm they are investigating a string of recent armed robberies in the city.

Police say it is believed that the same suspects are responsible for each of these robberies. In each incident, police say the suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash and cannabis products from the stores.

In a press release, police say the first event occurred around midnight on Wednesday, November 15, when they were called to the Four20 cannabis store in the southwest of the city for an armed robbery. The suspects were gone by the time police arrived. Four20 has more than 30 locations in Calgary.

A week later, on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, again at around midnight, police received reports of an armed robbery. The location this time was the Dank Cannabis Weed Dispensary Parkdale in the city’s northwest. Dank has three locations in Calgary.

The suspects again fled the store prior to the arrival of police and were believed to be driving a stolen vehicle.  

Later that day, police were called for reports of a third armed robbery, this time at a different Four20 location in Calgary’s southwest. Police say it is believed that three suspects entered the store and brandished a gun and a knife.

Police are working closely with business staff to obtain and review evidence. No suspects are in custody at this time. 

On November 22, the owner of two cannabis stores in the Calgary area noted the robberies and the aggressive nature of the robbers, including reports of employees being zip-tied. 

Robberies and burglaries of cannabis stores are not uncommon, and stores in Calgary have been previously targeted. Cannabis growers and processors have not been immune, either. Earlier this year, at least two cannabis producers in BC’s Lower Mainland were the victims of early-morning burglaries.

Alberta recently repealed its rule requiring stores to have window coverings that retailers said made their employees less safe in such incidents.

Featured image of an armed robbery at a cannabis store in Calgary in 2021

Related Articles

Police in Calgary seek assistance to identify cannabis store robbery suspects

June 11, 2021

Toronto Police arrest man in connection with violent cannabis store robbery

June 29, 2023

Cannabis retailers continue to face security challenges

February 6, 2023