Jewellery retailers in Ontario and Quebec face a rising threat from thieves using diverse tactics. Recent incidents highlight smash-and-grab robberies, distraction thefts, and attacks involving weapons.
In Hamilton, a jewellery retailer at Lime Ridge Mall was robbed at approximately 10:10 a.m. on Monday, September 21. Two suspects entered the store, with one using a steel pipe to smash open display cases. They stole gold chains and fled to a waiting black Hyundai Elantra, which police say was stolen. A mall patron who tried to get the licence plate was injured in an altercation with one of the suspects. The suspects are two males, aged 17 to 20. One wore a red tracksuit, the other a brown one.
The same day, a Rosemère, Quebec, store was targeted by five suspects. They entered Place Rosemère armed with axes and pepper spray. The group smashed display cases and stole jewellery. Four suspects were arrested quickly. No one was injured, though mall patrons were affected by the pepper spray. The suspects fled in a vehicle later found near Highway 640. Quebec police report a broader increase in such thefts in the province.
Distraction Tactics Lead to High-Value Theft
Not all incidents involve force. On September 19, a Sault Ste. Marie store was hit by a distraction theft. Two men posed as customers, distracting staff long enough to steal two gold chains worth over $20,000. The owner tracked the suspects to Wawa, approximately 160 km (99.4 miles) north of Sault Ste. Marie, and called police. The men were arrested and the jewellery recovered. They were instructed to return for fingerprinting, but police suspect they may head west to target more stores. The grey Honda Odyssey they were in is now a focus for retailers. Ontario jewellers are warned to remain alert and contact police, not confront suspects.
Related Post: Jewellery stores targeted in Canadian mall thefts
An Ottawa robbery on September 17 also involved a weapon. At approximately 7:39 p.m., a lone male entered a jewellery store at Bayshore Shopping Centre and used a hammer to smash a display case containing gold chains. He fled with chains, but an employee from another business intervened. The suspect dropped most of the stolen jewellery and the hammer while escaping.
Surveillance footage suggests he may be linked to other recent thefts in the area. A driver’s licence left at one scene helped police identify him. He is a white male, about 52 years old, 5 feet 8.5 inches tall, with a slim build and short grey hair. He was wearing light blue jeans, a dark pullover, and a black baseball cap.
Security and Awareness Remain Key
These incidents show different methods are being used to target stores quickly. Force was used in Hamilton and Rosemère. A hammer was the weapon in Ottawa. Deception worked in Sault Ste. Marie. The methods vary, but the targets are clear.
