Five people have been charged following an attempted jewelry store robbery in Markham last week.
Police were called to a report of suspicious people at a jewelry store in the area of Yonge Street and Doncaster Drive on Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. Police were told it appeared the suspects were about to commit a robbery. Officers arrested one man, while two others fled. A hammer was found on the man who was arrested, York Regional Police said in a news release.
Police then identified a suspect vehicle that had been stolen during a violent carjacking in Toronto.
On Wednesday, police located the vehicle in a grocery store parking lot in the area of Highway 7 and Baldwin Street in Whitby, and the five occupants were arrested. During the arrest, police found a replica firearm on one of the accused.
Officers later executed two search warrants at residences in Ajax and seized a loaded handgun, police said.
Kayron Walters, 18, of Ajax, Tafiyah Eccleston, 18, of Oshawa, a 16-year-old male from Ajax, a 16-year-old female from Brampton and a 17-year-old male from Oshawa are facing charges, including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence (robbery), possession of property obtained by crime, and unauthorized possession of a firearm with ammunition.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police hold-up unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6630. Information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or 1800222tips.com.
