Toronto police are searching for five suspects following a daring attempted robbery at a jewelry store in Scarborough on Wednesday evening. The suspects backed a stolen truck into the store, damaging a gas line and forcing a temporary evacuation of the area.
The incident occurred just before 6:30 p.m. near Eglinton Avenue and Brimley Road. According to Duty Insp. Saleem Husain, the suspects attempted to break into the store by driving the truck through the entrance. However, they were unsuccessful in stealing anything from the store.
“They were unable to get into the store with the vehicle in the way,” Husain said. The suspects fled the scene in a separate light-coloured vehicle before police arrived.
The collision caused significant damage to the store and ruptured a gas line, prompting an evacuation of the surrounding area as a safety precaution. The gas line was repaired by 8 p.m., and no injuries were reported due to the gas leak. However, one of the jewelry store’s owners sustained minor injuries during the attempted robbery.
Police are now searching for five masked suspects and are urging anyone with dashcam footage, cellphone video, or other recordings from the area around the time of the robbery to come forward. Investigators believe that video evidence could be crucial in identifying and apprehending the suspects.
The brazen nature of the attempted robbery has shocked the local community, with many residents expressing concern over the increasing boldness of such crimes. Police have assured the public that they are actively investigating the incident and are committed to bringing the suspects to justice.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Toronto Police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.