Man bear-sprayed, has car stolen while delivering parcel in latest of recent Winnipeg carjackings

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after a driver was bear-sprayed and robbed of his car on Monday,the latest in a series of carjacking in Winnipeg that have left servalpeople injured in the last two weeks, including two drivers who have been struckwith the stolen vehicle.

The latest in a series of four carjackings happened onHarbison Avenue near Watt Street where officers responded to reports of a mansuffering from the effects of bear sprayMonday afternoon.

Police said the man, 22, was delivering a parcel when he was hit, bear-sprayedand carjacked.Paramedics treated the manand he was medically cleared at the scene.

A vehicle matching the description of the stolen car was seen shortly after, driving erratically in a rear lane near Bowman Avenue, east of Watt Street, Winnipeg police said in a news release Tuesday.

Officers located the car, and after a short foot pursuit, they arrested an 18-year-old man who has since been charged with robbery, assault with a weapon and failing to comply with a probation order.

Victimstruck after carjacking

Winnipeg police are investigating three other carjackings that have happened in the last two weeks.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, a carjacker bear-sprayed a driver, hauled him from his car, robbed him and then struck him with the stolen vehicle as he fled the scene. Winnipeg police say.

Officers responding to the scene at the intersection of Sherbrook Street and Ross Avenue at 2:06 a.m. found the victim, 39, was suffering from minor injuries, police said in a news release on Monday.

Police said the man was waiting for a friend near the intersection when the carjacker suddenly opened the driver's side door, blasted him with bear spray and then pulled him and his dog from the vehicle.

The victim was then robbed of his personal belongings and struck by the vehicle as the carjacker left the area in Winnipeg's Centennial neighbourhood, police said.

The stolen vehicle was later found on Edmonton Street between Qu-Appelle and Cumberland avenues.

The victim,who was medically cleared at the scene, was unable to provide a description of the thief, but a witness said the carjacker was a man, approximately five feet eight inches tall, according to a news release.

On Oct. 27, a34-year-old woman who hadjust left church was pulled from her vehicle and robbed during a violent carjacking.

Police said the woman was confronted by three people, one witha weapon, on William Avenue west of Isabel Street, whodemanded her keys, forced her out, stole other items from her and then drove off.

The woman in thecarjackingdid not require medical treatment.

A day beforea 45-year-old woman was the victim of another violent carjacking nearthe RBC Convention Centre

Police said she was in a parking lot on Oct. 26 when she was struck by her vehicle as the carjacker drove off. She was sent to the hospital in unstable condition but was later upgraded to stable, police said in a previous release.

Police continue to investigate the three carjackings. No arrests have been made in either incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219, Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477), or online at winnipegcrimestoppers.org.