Police charge 14-year-old after robbery at store in Port Colborne

Police in Niagara have arrested and charged a 14-year-old youth after a store in Port Colborne was robbed Wednesday.

Niagara Regional Police responded shortly before 11:30 a.m. to reports of a robbery at an Avondale food store located at the corner of Main St. West and Elm St.

Police say the youth reportedly entered the store, took items off the shelf and tried to leave without paying for them.

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When the suspect was confronted by a store employee outside, he drew a knife from his jacket and threatened the employee.

Police say a person driving by saw this happening and pulled over to help the employee. Neither the driver nor the employee sustained any physical injures during the altercation.

Officers were able to locate the suspect a short distance later at the intersection of Neff and Elm Streets.

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As a result, a 14-year-old male youth from Port Colborne was arrested and charged with assault with a weapon, theft under $5,000 and failure to comply with a sentence.

The identity of the accused will not be released because of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the investigating officer at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009101.