Hamilton jewelry store owner held at gunpoint during 'devastating' smash-and-grab robbery, police say

A Hamilton jewlery store owner is recovering from minor injuries after a pickup truck reversed through his shop's window and he was assaulted and robbed, police say. 

The robbery, involving six male suspects, began just before 9 p.m. ET Thursday at Ancaster Jewellers, Hamilton Police Service said in a news release. 

Jean-Pierre Verbunt, owner of Ancaster Jewellers for 45 years, was working with two other employees when the truck smashed the window. He spoke to reporters outside the Wilson Street West store on Friday. 

"I knew exactly what was happening," said Verbunt, who immediately hit the alarms and called 911. 

There were no customers in the store at the time, police said. 

Verbunt said he then threw a heavy object at one of the suspects, hitting him in the head. 

He said one of the men then hit him in the eye and chin, and pointed a gun at him. 

Some of the suspects, including one carrying a sledgehammer, smashed display cases and grabbed jewelry, said Greg Blunsdon, a detective with Hamilton police's break-and-enter, auto theft and recovery unit.

When police arrived, the six suspects had fled, Blunsdon told reporters. The pickup truck was left at the store.

Patrol and plainclothes officers, who were already in the area, found and arrested four adults between 18 and 20 years old and one youth in another vehicle, he said. They're all from the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. 

They were charged with robbery, disguise with intent, mischief over $5,000, theft over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime, police said. 

Police search for 6th suspect

Police continued searching for a sixth man, who they believe is carrying a gun, said Blunsdon. He's described as being non-white, with long black hair and wearing an all-black Adidas track suit. 

Blunsdon advised anyone who thinks they've seen him to not approach him and call police immediately. 

Similar robberies have taken place across the Greater Toronto Area this fall, including two in the past week.  

At least eight people, several armed with guns, entered a Mississauga jewelry store in September, stealing a "significant quantity" of jewelry and cash, Peel police said. They fled in two separate stolen vehicles.

Two teens and an adult were later charged with robbery. 

This week, four people robbed a jewelry store in Richmond Hill, said York police.

Suspects wearing masks were seen smashing display cases and stealing jewelry, police said. They fled in a stolen vehicle.

A few days later, masked men smashed the windows of a jewelry store in a Markham mall, stealing the pieces inside, said York police. Two men and four teen boys were charged with robbery, wearing a disguise and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

As of Thursday, York police said they were still looking for six other male suspects. 

Blunsdon said it was too early to comment on whether the robbery in Hamilton is related.

This is the first smash-and-grab robbery Hamilton has experienced in recent years and it has significantly impacted the store's owner and staff, Blunsdon said. 

"They've been in Ancaster for a very long time," he said. "When things like this happen, it is devastating and they're working through it."