Police continue to investigate the robbery of the North of the Border store, and are waiting on evidence to be processed by the state, according to police.
The North of the Border was robbed by two individuals, armed with a gun and a knife, on Jan. 25. The two men attacked Ali Mortada, who co-owns the store, including stabbing him in the abdomen, before escaping with stolen cash.
Mortada was injured but was released from the hospital and back at work within a few days of the incident.
Police suspect the two men may have also been involved in a similar robbery which occurred the week prior, where three masked men robbed the State Line Grocery in Fitzwilliam, escaping with stolen money and cigarettes.
In an interview, Friday, investigating officer Sgt. Rachel Malynowski said evidence gathered from the scene of the North of the Border robbery has been sent to the state crime lab for analysis, and police are still actively investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made so far.
“We are still very optimistic,” Malynowski said of the possibility of an arrest in the case. “We’re going forward methodically.”
Malynowski said Rindge police remain in contact with Fitzwilliam authorities but the two cases are being investigated individually by the departments.
Malynowski said she’s not aware of any other similar robberies in the area since the North of the Border incident.
Anyone with any information regarding the State Line Grocery incident is asked to call Fitzwilliam Police Chief Leonard DiSalvo at (603) 585-6565 or email him at chief@fitzpolice.us.
Anyone with information about the North of the Border incident is asked to call Rindge police Sgt. Malynowski at 899-5009 ext. 15.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.