Conestoga Mall jewellery store robbed, five youths arrested

A jewellery store in Conestoga Mall was the victim of a smash and grab robbery.

Waterloo Regional Police confirmed a group of five youth males entered a store in the mall around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, equipped with hammers and a firearm. Police said they smashed display cases while threatening staff before attempting to flee the mall in a stolen vehicle waiting for them outside.

When police located the vehicle, the suspect did not stop for police, but shortly thereafter crashed in the Wyman Road area. WRPS added the vehicle hit a curb hard enough to break an axle.

The youths, aged 13 to 17, proceeded to run away, leading to a foot pursuit where they were eventually located and arrested in the Frobisher Drive area.

Police have laid charges against all five suspects. Two were from Waterloo Region, aged 13 and 16. The rest are from Toronto and surrounding areas.

“We have an increase in GTA youth and even adults attending in the area,” said Shaena Morris, Superintendent of Investigative Services with Waterloo Regional Police. “We’re seeing a lot of amalgamation across the province in general with this type of incident,” She added.

The five face charges including robbery with a firearm and possession over $5,000.

WRPS also confirmed that both the firearm and vehicle have been seized.

No physical injuries have been reported.