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Five males, including four youths, from the GTA have been charged following what Hamilton Police called a “brazen, broad-daylight smash-and-grab robbery” at a jewelry store.
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Cops said on Wednesday at 7:51 p.m., four masked suspects entered Peoples Jewelers at 75 Centennial Pkwy. N. on the west side of Eastgate Mall.
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Police said the suspects used hammers to shatter display cases and began seizing valuable merchandise in a mere 20 seconds.
Authorities said security guards quickly responded to the disturbance, prompting the suspects to flee toward the west entrance while one guard followed the group and recorded video. The guard said he saw them get into a grey Honda Civic with silver trim before fleeing westbound on Queenston Rd.
Police located the fleeing suspect vehicle, which was travelling at a dangerous speed through congested traffic on Queenston Rd. and the vehicle struck a curb and came to an abrupt stop on the Red Hill Valley Pkwy. off-ramp with two flat tires.
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The four occupants fled on foot but officers apprehended all suspects within minutes.
A Brampton male, 17, and and a Mississauga male, 18, were arrested following a short foot pursuit at 7:56 p.m and another male, 17, also from Brampton, was taken into custody at 8 p.m. after attempting to flee on foot along Eaton Place. He was found to be breaching multiple conditions of a release order, including a house arrest and weapons prohibition.
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Two other male youths, aged 13 and 16, from Toronto, were arrested at 8:11 p.m. in the area of Eastvale Place and Armstrong Ave. One youth was missing a shoe, which was allegedly later found in the suspect vehicle. One of the individuals was also bound by release conditions prohibiting unauthorized motor vehicle use and weapons possession.
The suspect vehicle, a 2020 grey Honda Civic, was confirmed stolen out of Toronto and inside officers allegedly observed bear spray, black plastic bags, jewellery, a hammer, and the aforementioned missing shoe plus all stolen merchandise.
All five individuals face robbery, possession over $5,000 (stolen vehicle) and disguise with intent, with no bail offered.
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