6 teens charged in failed North York jewelry store robbery, police release video
CBC News | Posted: March 19, 2025 2:23 PM | Last Updated: 17 hours ago
Police helicopter footage shows accused attempting to break into store
Six teenagers have been charged after attempting to rob a jewelry store in North York, police say.
The incident happened on Friday, while York police officers were investigating a stolen Acura TLX sedan that was found in Vaughan. Police say they identified six people as being linked to the stolen car.
Officers watched the car as it was driven to an area near Billy Bishop Way and Wilson Avenue, police said in a news release Wednesday. Five people exited the car carrying sledgehammers and bags, police said..
"The suspects ... attempted to force entry, however they failed to gain access," the news release said.
Police contained the car and arrested six teenagers after briefly chasing them on foot, they said. One suspect is outstanding.
The accused include two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old from Toronto. A 16-year-old and a 17-year-old from Brampton, as well as a 17-year-old from Vaughan, have also been charged.
They face charges including robbery with a weapon, disguise with intent, possession of a property obtained by a crime over $5,000.
The 16-year-old from Brampton also faces two courts of disobeying a court order.
In an interview with CBC Toronto, Const. James Dickson said police are seeing a trend of youth increasingly committing "smash and grab style robberies."
'They are ready to do something,' officer says in video
Police released a video showing the incident, taken from a police helicopter. The footage shows several people exiting a car in a plaza.
"They are masked up, boys, they are ready to do something. They're looking around, they're looking at the window," an unidentified officer can be heard saying in the video.
The officer later says the accused are smashing in a window with a hammer, though this cannot be clearly seen in the video. One person appears to be smashing at a storefront with an object, before the group goes back into the car.
WATCH | Police release helicopter footage of botched jewelry store robbery:
Several unmarked police cars then appear, with one boxing in the car in the parking space. The group then exits and can be seen running in the plaza as they are chased by officers.
The video then shows a person on the ground in the plaza as several officers stand around them.
"All are in custody … we'll be out here, good work," the same unidentified officer is heard saying.
Police are advising business owners to take steps to protect their stores, including by installing and regularly maintaining security systems, the release said.
At night or when there are less staff in the store, owners are advised to consider using a buzz-in system with a camera that allows employees to speak with customers before letting them in.
The jewelry store that was targeted on Friday had a buzz-in system that kept the accused out, as well as high quality glassware that could not be easily smashed, Dickson said.
"The owners are taking these steps to make sure that everything is safe … and this really assists our investigators," he said.