Four teenagers from London are facing charges after an armed robbery at a Tillsonburg gas station resulted in a police chase.
The Oxford County Ontario Provincial Police said on Thursday around 3:52 a.m., four youths went to the Pioneer Gas Bar on Broadway Street and a male youth from among them entered the store holding a knife. The male threatened the store employee before making off with an undisclosed amount of money. The male then joined the other three youths in a waiting vehicle and fled the scene.
The employee was not injured during the robbery.
OPP officers later spotted the vehicle travelling north on Plank Line and attempted to pull it over, however, the driver did not stop and officers were forced to pursue the vehicle. Officers used a "tire deflation device" and were able to stop the vehicle just before it made it onto eastbound Highway 401.
Four youths -- a 15-year-old male, a 17-year-old male, a 16-year-old female, and a 17-year-old female -- were all arrested at the scene and are charged with robbery with a weapon and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. Their identities cannot be released because of their age.
Two of the four youths allegedly spit on officers during their arrest and will face further charges. It was also discovered that the vehicle had been stolen in London, and the London City Police Service is now conducting a separate investigation.
