Stay Inside. Lock Your Doors.
That was the message RCMP sent to everyone living in the Riverside neighbourhood of St. Albert on Sunday.
Alberta RCMP issued a public safety alert ordering Riverside residents to shelter in place while officers searched for a suspect involved in an armed robbery. The alert was posted to the official @RCMPAlberta account on X.
"RCMP in St. Albert ask everyone in the Riverside neighborhood to shelter in place as officers are searching for a suspect involved in an armed robbery," the post read. "Stay in your residences and do not open the door for anyone. Follow all directions from responding officers."
No further details about the robbery where it happened, what was used, or who was targeted have been released at this time.
What Is a Shelter in Place?
A shelter-in-place order is one step below a full evacuation order. It means police believe there is an active threat in a specific area and that residents are safer staying indoors than moving around outside. Officers typically set up a perimeter and conduct a systematic search of the area while the order is in effect.
In practice, it means: stay home, lock your doors, keep away from windows, and wait for an all-clear from police. Do not answer the door for anyone unless you can confirm it is a police officer.
What We Know So Far
Details are limited. RCMP confirmed an armed robbery took place and that a suspect had not been located at the time the alert was issued. The Riverside neighbourhood sits in the southwest part of St. Albert, near the Sturgeon River.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Anyone with information is asked to call St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700. To report tips anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at P3Tips.com.
Sources:
Alberta RCMP (@RCMPAlberta on X, May 10, 2026)
