Residents in St-Henri are feeling an increased sense of relief after police arrested three teens Monday night following a rash of recent muggings.

The three, all aged 15 and 16, are suspected of robbing and threatening to assault a man in the borough.

“We observed the comings and goings near the metro, and we can confirm the arrest of three people who were charged with robbery,” said Lt. Sylvain Malo of the Montreal police.

They were arrested at a McDonalds in Verdun and formally charged Wednesday with possession of a weapon, stolen goods and armed robbery. One was also charged with breaking probation.

The trio was found with a knife and a telescopic club allegedly used to threaten and rob a man walking in the Southwest borough earlier that same Monday night.

Two similar muggings took place the night before, and last Thursday Andre Hobson was attacked near the St-Henri metro

The 22-year-old man suffered serious injuries when he was randomly beaten by at least four people wearing bandanas and surgical masks. 

“The whole thing did send a shockwave into the neighbourhood and people would say, ‘I'm afraid to walk to the metro home at night.’ At 5 o’clock, it's already dark out,” said borough councillor Craig Sauvé.

Police confirmed two similar cases involving two different victims on Sunday night on Notre-Dame St. West.

“It turns out there are two groups of attackers, and they might have been active elsewhere,” he said, adding that the second investigation is progressing quickly.

The borough is warning people to be vigilant when walking in the area until more arrests are made.

The monthly council meeting at the Southwest borough was packed Tuesday night as Mayor Benoit Dorais tried to reassure citizens.

“We're working alongside Station 15,” Dorais told the crowd.

The news is encouraging, said Sauvé.

“The gratuitous violence that we've experienced here in the borough recently is a matter of serious concern to us as it threatens our physical security and infringes on our quality of life and the sense of freedom in our neighbourhood,” he said.

Local gym Tritton-Harley Gym offered free self-defence courses to Hobson following his attack, and is now offering the same to others. The response has been overwhelming, said Joshua Harley of the gym.

“I've had probably 200 people now express that they would want to come on the Friday or Sunday,” he said.