Toronto police are seeking six suspects after a jewelry store in a shopping mall was robbed by people with hammers on Monday afternoon.
In a news release on Monday, police said officers were called to the scene at Fairview Mall at 1:20 p.m. All of the thieves used hammers to break the glass and all were wearing masks and gloves, police said.
“The suspects broke open the jewelry display cabinets and took a large quantity of jewelry from the display,” police said in the release.
The suspects were seen leaving the store and shopping mall and getting into a waiting vehicle, police added.
As it was leaving the mall parking lot, that vehicle collided with another vehicle, said police. The suspects then got out and fled in another getaway vehicle. That vehicle has since been found with the help of York Regional Police.
One of the drivers of the vehicles in collision remained on scene after suffering non-life-threatening injuries.
Police are concerned about a “significant” rise in jewelry store robberies across Toronto, a police spokesperson told CBC Toronto in an email Monday afternoon.
As of last week, 43 jewelry store robberies had been reported so far this year, compared to 21 during the same time period last year. That’s more than a 100 per cent increase, police said.
Toronto police say jewelry store robberies have doubled this year compared to last year, with many of the brazen incidents caught on camera. CBC’s Naama Weingarten explores what’s behind the trend.
Toronto police said they’re working closely with other police services across the Greater Toronto Area, as well as with Crime Stoppers, jewelry store owners, property management companies and security companies to combat the thefts.
They’re also encouraging retailers to adopt security measures that would make them less attractive to thieves, including:
- Implementing a locked-door policy to control access to the premises.
- Using display cases with high-security locks and tempered glass.
- Avoiding the display of real jewelry when possible, especially in unattended areas.
- Ensuring security cameras are installed and functioning properly, with clear visibility of entry points and high-value areas.
- Conducting regular staff training on how to respond during a robbery and recognizing suspicious behaviour.
- Establishing clear communication protocols with local police and neighbouring businesses.