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Two people have been arrested following the armed robberies of two Maple Ridge food establishments last week.
Tuesday, Nov. 24, at about 5 p.m., the Booster Juice restaurant in Westgate Shopping Mall was robbed. Cash and an employee’s cellphone were stolen.
The next day, at about 3 p.m., the New York Indian Restaurant on Lougheed Highway and 217th Street was robbed. This time, the male suspect took the entire cash register.
Police said that in both robberies a firearm was produced and both suspects, a man and woman, were captured on surveillance video.
Ridge Meadows RCMP didn’t notify the public of the robberies because events were unfolding quickly.
The day after the robberies, at about 10 p.m., police saw a stolen vehicle parked in downtown Maple Ridge. They followed the vehicle by Air 1 helicopter to a Langley underground parking lot and made two arrests in relation to the robberies.
Police believe the vehicle involved had been stolen during a Surrey car jacking on Nov. 17.
“These arrests and subsequent charges are very significant and are the result of a very thorough investigation by members of the Ridge Meadows RCMP,” Supt. David Fleugel said.
Russell Jordan Mayhew, 29, of New Westminster, and Alexandrov Konstanchia, 25, of Langley, have been charged with the two robberies, and possession of stolen property.
Mayhew had four outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Konstanchia was also prohibited from driving at the time of her arrest.