Ancaster Jewellers reopens after destructive break-in and robbery

A Hamilton-area jewelry store is set to reopen Friday with the support of the community after a brazen break-in and robbery closed the store early December.

There have been a number of violent jewelry store ‘smash-and-grab’ robberies in the GTA and surrounding areas over the past few weeks — many in broad daylight and in busy shopping malls.

On Dec. 5 shortly before 9 p.m. a car reversed into the front window of Ancaster Jewellers on Wilson Street West in Ancaster.

READ MORE: Hamilton police arrest 5 following Ancaster jewellery store robbery

Hamilton police say the suspects involved allegedly pointed a gun at the owner before smashing display cases and taking off.

The store owner was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Five people from Scarborough have since been arrested, all 20 years old and under, and there’s still an outstanding suspect.

Ancaster Jewellers thanked locals for supporting the store following a Dec. 19 community Facebook post that said: “Let’s come together to shop, stand in solidarity, and help them rebuild stronger than ever. They’ve been through a lot, so let’s surround them with positivity.”

STRING OF BRAZEN THEFTS

York police have reported that jewelry store robberies are significantly up compared to last year. A Burlington man was among four arrested after a police helicopter helped to locate the suspects in a Dec. 17 break-in and theft.

Due to the rash of robberies the department and York Region government are organizing an initiative aimed at restoring a sense of safety in the community.

READ MORE: Burlington man among 4 arrested after Toronto jewellery store robbery

Recent robberies in the Southern Ontario region took place at another Richmond Hill jeweller on Dec. 2, at CF Markville Mall in Markham on Dec. 4, at Fairview Mall in Toronto on Dec. 16 and at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo on Dec. 18.

A robbery in Markham in early December was captured on video by a number of afternoon shoppers and shared on X.

#Toronto #Ontario #Canada #sstvi

Footage of a robbery at a jewelry store at Markville mall in Markham #TorontoCulture #theft pic.twitter.com/lBUSsvujSn

— 🇮🇳 Not #ModiKaParivaar 🇨🇦🍁 (@jobinindia) December 5, 2024

Waterloo police say multiple suspects in the Conestoga Mall incident were seen using hammers to smash the glass casings, similar to the other violations.

Police believe the same suspects are connected to a jewelry store robbery at Cambridge Centre Mall on Dec. 16.

READ MORE:5 suspects at large following violent robbery at Richmond Hill jewellery store

A security guard will be present at Ancaster Jewellers for the reopening.

Almost all of the suspects in the jewelry store robberies have been under the age of 25, with one suspect age 15.