“Police checking possible links between robberies of jewelry stores, payday loan outlet”

Police checking possible links between robberies of jewelry stores, payday loan outlet

Posted: 15 Dec 2010 01:34 PM PST

KITCHENER — For the second time in two weeks, armed and masked robbers staged a brazen heist at a Fairview Park Mall jewelry store and made a quick get away.

Both robberies took place while the mall was open and shoppers were rushing to complete their Christmas purchases.

"These crimes are very brazen," said Supt. Bryan Larkin. "They are being committed by armed and dangerous people."

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a possible link between the two robberies, as well as the robbery of a payday loan shop in Kitchener on Tuesday.

"We are looking at all the similarities," said Larkin. "We want to make sure this is not a copy-cat robbery."

The latest robbery occurred Wednesday at 11:20 a.m. at Ben Moss Jewelers.

Three people dressed in clothing that covered their bodies and faces took an undisclosed amount of jewelry in the smash-and-grab. They were armed with a machete and sledgehammer and seen leaving with duffel bags and suitcases, Larkin said.

"No shots were fired," he said.

On Dec. 1, People's Jewelers was hit by three men, one armed with a handgun, and on Tuesday, a Cashmax outlet on Weber Street East was robbed. No weapon was seen in the third robbery, though the clerk was assaulted.

All three robberies involved three suspects who covered their faces, and in two cases, they were seen fleeing in a van.

He said the gender of the robbers is not known, though in the first two, they were described by witnesses as male.

Rene Beshara came to the mall to check up on his mother, Eveleen, who was one of two female employees working at Ben Moss Jewellers when it was robbed.

"She is shaken up. It is pretty terrifying," Beshara said.

He said the robbers smashed three display cases at the back of the store and snatched all the trays containing diamonds.

Ruth Russell was having coffee in front of the store and checking over her Christmas list when she looked up and saw what she described as an "odd looking group" walk past.

She said all three were wearing what appeared to be pastel-coloured burkas over their clothes, with only their eyes exposed. One was carrying a rolling suit case.

"Then, I heard a very loud crash — it sounded like someone dropped a cash register," she said.

"I saw a woman looking very agitated in the store and then I heard another big crash. I thought, 'There's something going on here. I don't want to be part of it.' So I deked into the nearest store just as they were closing the security gates."

David Parker was also outside the store when he saw the group walking through the hallway and noted that they looked suspicious.

"Just the way the three of them were walking together – they headed straight for that jewelry store," he said. "They were looking over the jewelry for a while and then all hell broke loose and they were smashing the displays."

"I was telling everyone to get the hell out. I didn't know if they had a gun or not. I was telling everyone to get out of the mall."

Larkin said within minutes of the robbery, police had blocked every entrance and exit to the mall with their cruisers, but the culprits had already left, and were seen heading down Kingsway Drive in a grey van.

"Regretfully, even though we were here within minutes, they were gone. This shows how these acts happen so quickly," he said.

The superintendant said police had stepped up patrol in the mall after the first robbery, and he said police presence will be increased even more.

Larkin said officers will be viewing images from the store's video-surveillance cameras and will be talking to witnesses.

Kelly Vieira, the mall's general manager, said in an e-mailed statement that the safety and security of customers and employees is their primary concern.

"It is unfortunate regarding the incident that occurred today," he said.

"This is a very important time of the year for our retailers and we are actively working with the police during their investigation so that these criminals are brought to justice as quickly as possible."

After the robbery, police and security were visible in and around the store speaking to witnesses.

Employees were visible behind the closed security door, drawn after the robbers fled. Later, the store added paper over the door to prevent people from looking in.

Shoppers who hadn't been near the store at the time went about their errands and few seemed to know the robbery had even taken place.

Anyone with information can call police at 519-653-7700, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

fbarrick@therecord.com

mdalton@therecord.com

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