Three people have been arrested after two stores were robbed on Monday night by thieves with hammers, Toronto police say.
No one was reported injured in the robberies, which occurred minutes apart, according to police.
In the first robbery, four people with hammers robbed a jewelry store in Fairview Mall, police said. Officers were called to the store at about 8:43 p.m.
Const. Cindy Chung, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, said in an email on Monday night that the store is Chow Tai Fook and it was robbed previously on Dec. 16.
Police said the suspects fled on foot with the merchandise but three were arrested.
The three male youths arrested have been charged with robbery with an offensive weapon and disguise, police said.
There was a heavy police presence in the mall following the robbery.
In the second robbery, three people with hammers robbed a retail store in the area of Eglinton Avenue West and Venn Crescent, police said. Officers were called to the store at 8:47 p.m.
Police said the suspects in the second robbery fled in a vehicle. All were wearing black masks and hoodies.
Police said the second robbery is being investigated independently.
The two robberies are the latest in a string of similar incidents in the Greater Toronto Area this month.
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.