A series of brazen liquor store robberies across the province came to Portage this afternoon.

A video on social media's gone viral of three people leaving the store at Saskatchewan Avenue and 3rd Street Northeast.

At the Monday night City Council meeting, Mayor Irvine Ferris wasn't surprised it happened, and calls it concerning.

"The brazen nature of it, broad daylight," he says. "It's very similar to concerns I heard from many members of our business community and retail here in Portage, on Saskatchewan Avenue. Over the summer, the losses that they were taking, the threat to their staff, their customers, so it's a very worrisome trend, and it appears to be getting worse, rather than better."

Ferris says the city's had consultations with the Justice Minister, businesses, and the RCMP.

"What we feel is that there needs to be some meaningful consequences," he says. "Many times these individuals are apprehended, they're charged appropriately, they wind up in the court system, and many people feel that's the part of the system that's letting them down right now -- that there aren't meaningful consequences. And in many cases, treatment is also needed."

Ferris stresses while the Hub Program's under way for the city, the Bear Clan's coming, and the RCMP have begun downtown patrols, something's missing.

"The part of the system that people feel is not working the way it should be is the justice system, particularly the court system." he says. "Sometimes these individuals need to be taken off the streets, put into custody, or put into treatment. And until that happens, I don't think we're going to see this trend reverse itself."

Ferris attributes the problem to the meth crisis, which he says is happening almost every city in Manitoba.

The RCMP are investigating. If you have information, call 204-857-4445, or Manitoba Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 (TIPS).

The three people making their escape