The search continues for four suspects after a bold smash and grab robbery at Paris Jewellers in Stratford. Stratford Police said one witness captured part of the robbery on video. Callers reported three masked people smashing display cases at the store, located inside Stratford Mall, shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday. The suspects took an unknown amount of merchandise. They escaped in a black Honda Accord with the licence plate DCPP 820, which had been reported stolen earlier that day from Peel Region. Officers spotted the vehicle shortly afterwards and began a pursuit along Ontario Street, but it was called off due to safety concerns near Shakespeare. The vehicle was then seen by the Waterloo Regional Police Service as it sped and swerved on Highway 7/8, near Homer Watson Boulevard. Officers also stopped their pursuit because of the dangerous driving behaviour. “There’s a huge safety risk factor with a crime like this,” said Const. Darren Fischer with the Stratford Police Service. “There’s violence being used, weapons being used. The psychology impact, not only for the employees but for other individuals [like] pedestrians using the mall.” No one was hurt during the robbery. Stratford Police shared photos of the suspects on Tuesday, which were taken by witnesses. They showed the suspects fleeing, as well as the vehicle they used for their getaway. Investigators are urging anyone with information or additional video to contact police or Crime Stoppers. Previous robberies at Paris Jewellers The Paris Jewellers inside Stratford Mall has been targeted by thieves on at least three other occasions in the last 18 months. Four people robbed the store on Jan. 3, 2024. Two of the suspects were later arrested in Niagara Falls and police seized $135,000 worth of jewelry which was believed to have come from Paris Jewellers. Eleven months later, on Nov. 27, 2024, a man stole an unknown quantity of merchandise from the store. On Feb. 5, 2025, another smash and grab robbery was reported at Paris Jewellers. Police tracked the getaway vehicle to a shopping plaza in Kitchener, where they arrested three teens and a 27-year-old man. Why the repeated robberies? CTV News reached out to Chris Lewis, a former OPP commissioner and public safety analyst, to find out why some stores are repeatedly targeted. “They’re picking spots that are easy to get to, and easy to get away from,” he explained, noting the store’s location in the mall and the mall’s proximity to a highway. “They’re scoping these things out,” Lewis said. “They don’t want to go out into the middle of the mall, running around with their faces covered.” Smash and grab robberies have been reported all across the province. “There’s been arrests made, and so who knows the impact that will have inevitably,” Lewis said. “In the future, some will tell on each other and some will be inspired to not do it anymore. But only time will tell.” - With additional reporting by Jeff Pickel
