Four people, including three youths, are in custody and police are looking for three other suspects in connection with several armed robberies of spas in Markham and Toronto.
Police say just before 3:30 a.m. on Nov. 23, three armed suspects robbed a spa in the Dufferin Street and Wilson Avenue area.
Approximately an hour later, three armed suspects broke into a spa in the Birchmount Road and 14th Avenue area of Markham, stealing a quantity of cash and one of the victim’s vehicles.
Surveillance video provided by York Regional Police shows the masked suspects breaking into the spa using a sledgehammer.
In both robberies, police say the suspects arrived in a stolen white Acura which was later located on Nov. 28. Three suspects were taken into custody at that time.
Police say just before 1 a.m. on Dec. 6, a third armed robbery of a spa took place in the Victoria Park Avenue and Steeles Avenue area. Two days later, two additional robberies within 20 minutes of each other were committed in the Carlingview Drive and Renforth Drive area and the Finch Avenue and Keele Street area.
Investigators say in both incidents the suspects arrived in a stolen Toyota Highlander.
On Dec. 10, search warrants were executed at two Toronto residences and one suspect was taken into custody.
A replica firearm and tools used to commit the robberies were recovered during the investigation.
Two 16-year-olds from Toronto and a 17-year-old from Toronto are facing a combined 19 robbery and firearms-related charges while 19-year-old Daiquon Estrada-Kelly of Toronto is facing four robbery and firearm-related charges.
Police say Estrada-Kelly and the two 16-year-olds were out on bail and were prohibited from possessing weapons at the time of their arrests.
Police have issued a warrant for 19-year-old Ayden Murray of Toronto, who is wanted on five counts of robbery with a firearm, five counts of disguise with intent and two counts of forcible confinement.
Police are also looking for two other suspects in connection with these robberies, however, no descriptions have been provided.