Five individuals, including two teens, are facing several charges following a bold robbery at a jewelry store in the Oshawa Centre on Sunday afternoon, according to police.
The incident took place around 3:45 p. m., as stated by Durham police in a news release, when officers responded to reports of a robbery at Bellagio Jewellers II located in the mall at 419 King Street W.
Four people entered the store, using bear spray while breaking display cases, police reported, while a fifth individual waited in a getaway vehicle outside.
WATCH | Video shows Oshawa shoppers detaining suspects after smash-and-grab robbery:
Video shows Oshawa shoppers detaining suspects after smash-and-grab robbery
Footage captures Oshawa mall shoppers apprehending two suspects right after the smash-and-grab incident. This event occurred on Sunday and led to a police chase and the arrest of five individuals.
The suspects attempted to flee before officers arrived, but two were caught inside the mall, investigators said. The other two made it to their vehicle but were later involved in a minor crash at Stevenson Road N. and King Street W.
The remaining suspects fled but were eventually taken into custody with assistance from police dogs, according to the news release.
Several videos shared on social media show what seems to be the aftermath of the robbery. In one clip, a bystander holds an individual in a headlock inside the mall, while another video shows police officers and a dog pursuing two people across a parking lot.
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Why the GTA is seeing a spike in jewelry store robberies
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Police indicated that there were minor injuries reported as several individuals received treatment at the scene due to exposure to bear spray – coughing can be heard in one of the social media videos.
The Oshawa fire department came out to help ventilate the area within the mall.
Three adults along with both a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old now face charges such as robbery and possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.
The 15-year-old also faces an additional charge for administering a noxious substance, according to police. All those involved have been held for bail hearings.
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