Five teens arrested after Hamilton Eastgate Square jewelry store robbery, stolen items recovered

Hamilton police arrested five teenagers and recovered all of the stolen items from a smash-and-grab robbery at an Eastgate Square jewelry store on Wednesday night.

Two teens from Brampton, both 17, one 18-year-old from Mississauga and two Toronto teenagers, ages 13 and 15, were charged in the incident.

The suspects — all wearing black ski masks — used hammers to shatter display cases in the Peoples Jewellers store located in the shopping centre on Centennial Parkway shortly before 8 p.m.

Police say that mall security helped to disperse the teens, who then fled towards the west entrance.

The suspect vehicle used in the robbery was a 2020 grey Honda Civic, which police confirmed as stolen out of Toronto. Inside the vehicle, officers found bear spray, jewelry and a hammer.

All of the stolen merchandise was recovered in the car, which was seized and towed for forensic examination.

The five individuals face charges of robbery, possession over $5,000 and disguise with intent.

Police say that the robbery was “a deliberate and coordinated crime carried out by individuals from outside the city” and that bail was opposed “due to the seriousness of the offence and the organized nature of the crime.”

Formal notices under the Youth Criminal Justice Act have been served to all of the teens’ parents.

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