The Guelph Police Service has released new information on four males they are trying to identify as part of a smash-and-grab investigation at Stone Road Mall. Officers raced to the shopping centre around 5:35 p.m. Friday after receiving word of a robbery at an unnamed jewelry store. They were told four masked males walked into the store and smashed display cases with hammers. The suspects also sprayed a noxious substance, believed to be bear spray, as they ran from the mall. Police said a couple of people were taken to hospital with respiratory issues. “Officers obviously responded quickly, but the suspects had been able to get away,” said Scott Tracey, a spokesperson for Guelph Police. Suspect descriptions On Monday, police released images and descriptions of the four suspects. Tracey said he hoped, “if people recognize these individuals, or they haven’t spoken to police and maybe witnessed what happened or have any video, they’d give us a call.” The first suspect was wearing an olive-green fleece-style hoodie, grey track pants, white running shoes with red and grey on the heel, red soles and a medical mask. He carried a hammer and a can of unidentified spray. The second suspect was wearing a grey hoodie with a red logo on the left sleeve, gloves with red or orange on them, black pants, white running shoes and a medical mask. He carried a black duffle bag or knapsack. The third suspect wore a black hoodie, black pants, black running shoes and a medical mask. He carried a black duffle bag or knapsack. The fourth suspect was wearing a black hoodie, black pants with a white stripe from the hip to the knee, black running shoes and a medical mask. He also had a black duffle bag or knapsack. Growing trend The Guelph incident is just the latest in a what has been a growing trend in southwestern Ontario. On Dec. 16, a jewelry store at the Cambridge Centre was robbed and, just two days later, another was hit inside Conestoga Mall in Waterloo. According to Jewellers Vigilance Canada, a non-profit arm of the Canadian Jewellers Association, thieves target malls because they can easily get in and out of. Distraction thefts used to be popular, they said, but now smash-and-grabs are the most common crime reported by their members. “What we say to jewelers… first, stay calm,” explained Scott Hayes, a security advisor with Jewellers Vigilance Canada. “Second, be compliant. Do not get involved. These people are using hammers and heavy implements to break glass most of the time and you don’t want that used on yourself.” Most importantly, he said: “I think it’s prudent to stay calm and stay out of the way as much as possible.” Shoppers who witness a robbery are also advised to steer clear of the thieves. “Just watch, be observant,” suggested Chris Lewis, a former OPP commissioner and CTV News’ public safety analyst. “Try to gather as much information as you can in terms of what they’re wearing, their shoes or their pants, etc. Sometimes you’ll see a wrist or some skin so you can detect what their color of skin [is] and things that might help police down the road.” Lewis also said these kinds of robberies are often linked to organized crime. “The people coming with masks and gloves and hammers and doing what they’re doing, that’s not people just trying to pay their bills. These are criminals doing it for profit, and they’re doing it for others and ultimately, they get paid for it.” - With reporting by Krista Sharpe
