RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — Four suspects, including two adults and two teenagers, were arrested after robbing a Richmond Hill jewelry store, thanks to the assistance of a police helicopter and a canine unit.
On the evening of the robbery, York Regional Police (YRP) responded to a smash-and-grab incident at a jewelry store in a strip mall near Yonge Street and Levendale Road. The suspects, armed with hammers, smashed glass cases and stole an unknown quantity of jewelry. During the incident, an employee was assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
The suspects fled the scene in a silver SUV, which was later identified as stolen. YRP’s Air2 helicopter tracked the vehicle as it made its way to Toronto, helping ground officers locate the suspects in an apartment parking lot near Highway 27 and Finch Avenue. The video released by YRP shows the suspects exiting the vehicle and running into a wooded area nearby.
Despite their efforts to evade capture, all four suspects were arrested by officers, assisted by the canine unit. The adult suspects were identified as 24-year-old Marlando Mitchell from Brampton and 20-year-old Che Brooks Baptiste from Burlington. They face a total of nine charges.
The two teens, aged 16 and from Toronto and Mississauga, were also arrested and face 12 charges. Due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, their identities cannot be released. Police noted that the adult suspects and one of the teens were out on a combined 10 release orders at the time of the robbery, with one teen also on probation.
YRP Chief Jim MacSween voiced concerns over repeat offenders, stressing the need for a stronger bail system to address such threats to public safety.
This robbery is part of an alarming rise in jewelry store thefts in the region, with 13 incidents reported this year—up from just seven last year. To combat the growing trend, YRP has launched its “Traumatic Incident Response Protocol,” which includes officers working closely with community members to enhance crime prevention efforts.
