Another GTA jewelry store robbery caught on camera as police provide community support

A new video has surfaced showing a brazen jewelry store robbery at Fairview Mall on Monday.

The video shared on social media and confirmed by CTV News Toronto shows six people with their hoods up running out of a Chow Tai Fook store at the North York mall with hammers and bags in hand shortly after 1 p.m.

In the footage, one of the suspects appears to slip on some broken glass as he exits the store but quickly gets back on his feet and takes off.

At the same time what appears to be two security guards can be seen observing the incident from a safe distance.

Police have said that the suspects smashed multiple display cabinets inside the store and removed a large quantity of jewelry before exiting the mall and fleeing in a waiting vehicle.

That vehicle was subsequently involved in a collision with another vehicle while leaving the mall property, prompting the suspects to run away and get into a second vehicle.

Video of the robbery comes as police in York Region make efforts to provide community support amid a spike in similar smash-and-grab robberies.

In partnership with the region, York Regional Police are setting up what they’re calling “Traumatic Incident Response Protocol,” which aims to provide support and resources to the community following violent incidents in the area.

Police say these teams will set up booths at two local shopping centres this week to provide people with “healing activities and crime prevention and personal safety tips.” Safety materials and wallet cards will also be on hand.

“This protocol comes in place whenever traumatic events have happened within the community, and it’s to try and bring a sense of well-being and general commitment together,” YRP spokesperson Const. James Dickson told CP24 Tuesday afternoon.

“We have officers that are at the malls working with our partners again to reach out to the community, to talk to them about all the crime prevention techniques that are available as well to allow the community to talk about their concerns, to see what we can do to try and improve this.”

Dickson said there has been a rise of jewelry store robberies in the region. Police have responded to at least 13 incidents this year, compared to seven in 2023.

Toronto police also said that so far in 2024, there had been 43 jewelry store robberies reported to police, compared to just 21 last year.