Four of five suspects allegedly involved in a smash-and-grab robbery at Paris Jewellers located in the Stratford Mall were arrested by police Feb. 5.
At 6 p.m. Feb. 5, the Stratford Police Service (SPS) received multiple 911 calls regarding a smash-and-grab robbery at Paris Jewellers. Police were informed five suspects had entered the mall and committed the robbery before fleeing in a white Honda CRV, which was observed travelling east out of the City of Stratford, police said in a press release. This vehicle was later learned to be stolen out of the Toronto area.
An unknown amount of jewelry was stolen in the robbery and one employee suffered minor injuries during the incident. A BOLO with the information regarding the suspects was sent to neighbouring police services, including the OPP and Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS).
Shortly before 7 p.m., Stratford police was notified by the OPP that the vehicle had been located at the Sunrise Shopping Centre in the City of Kitchener and officers had arrested four of the five suspects. WRPS also assisted with conducting a search of the area for the outstanding suspect, however, this person was not located and their identity remains unknown.
The four arrested individuals were transported to Stratford Police Headquarters and held for a bail hearing on Feb. 6.
Further investigation revealed that a second vehicle, which was also determined to be stolen from the Toronto area, was also involved. This vehicle, a white Dodge Durango, was located abandoned in a ditch on Perth Road 111 near Highway 7/8 after the robbery occurred.
Three of the of the accused parties are identified as male youths. One is a 15-year-old of Toronto, another a 16-year-old of Richmond Hill and the third a 17-year-old of Springhill, N.S.
The fourth accused has been identified as 27-year-old Julian Johnson of Richmond Hill.
As a result of this incident, the SPS has laid approximately 55 charges between the four individuals. Charges include robbery, possess break-in instruments, disguise with intent, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, utter threats, possession of property obtained by crime, as well as numerous breach-of-release-order related charges.
Johnson is also charged with several incidents that occurred while in police custody including assault police for allegedly biting one officer and spitting on several other officers. He is also charged with mischief under $5,000 for property damage caused while in custody.
The SPS thanked OPP and WRPS for the assistance provided in this matter. Appreciation was also extended to the staff members and witnesses at Paris Jewellers for the information provided, which led to the quick arrest of these suspects.
Victim services was contacted immediately to provide support to all who were impacted by this incident.
Further information regarding this robbery will be released when available.
Anyone who witnessed this robbery and has yet to speak with police is asked to please contact SPS at 519-271-4141.
Anyone with video or dash-cam footage of the robbery or suspects is asked to upload the evidence to: https://StratfordPolice.ca.evidence.com/axon/communityrequest/public/st24001969.
The Paris Jewellers at the Stratford Mall has now been targeted by thieves three times in the past 13 months. More than $135,000 in jewelry was recovered and returned last January after four men, dressed in black and wearing masks and hoods, undertook a similar smash-and-grab robbery at the store. They were reportedly in and out of the jewelry store in less than a minute.
Two of the men, both 21, were arrested a day later in Niagara Falls. One of the men was also allegedly in possession of a 9mm handgun, police said.
In November, police said an unknown man went to Paris Jewellers and allegedly took an unknown amount of jewelry before fleeing on foot. That incident wasn’t connected to the previous robbery, according to police.
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