Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 27/06) - Police are hoping a video surveillance photo of an individual taken during a convenience store robbery will lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Yellowknife RCMP say an armed robbery took place in the early morning hours of Jan. 23 at the Winks gas station/convenience store on the corner of Forrest Drive and Franklin Avenue.

Sgt. Darcy Fleury says the person, whom they believe to be a man, was fairly well-disguised with the face and hands covered.

Const. Jeff Burkell says they are not saying what type of weapon was used.

"We will be using that information for investigational purposes," Burkell says.

The person entered the store to demand money from the lone attendant and then fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect is described as between 170-180 lbs, approximately 5'9" and was wearing white running shoes, black pants and a blue jacket.

This is the third time in less than two years the store has been victim to armed robbery.

Abdullah Al-Mahamud has been the store owner on the last two occasions.

"I am concerned. I am also concerned that media reports during the last robbery said a huge amount of money was taken," he said.

"That's telling the robbers to rob the store again. For that reason my store got targeted again," he said. "It hurts the person who is victimized."

Nevertheless, Al-Mahamud said the most important thing was that his clerk was not harmed during the robbery.

"That's my main concern. Money and other things are replaceable. The human body is not."