OPP believe suspects in attempted eastern Ontario robbery linked to smash-and-grab at Place d’Orléans

An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) patch is seen in Ottawa, on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) believe suspects involved in an attempted robbery at a jewelry store in Alfred, Ont. may have been involved in a robbery at Place d’Orléans less than an hour later.

OPP officers responded to a call for a robbery at a jewelry store on St-Philippe Street in Alfred shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“Three males had smashed the store’s window but immediately fled empty-handed when an alarm was activated,” the OPP said in a media release Friday morning.

“There may have been a fourth person waiting in the vehicle.”

Police say the suspects left the scene heading west on County Road 17 in a white Toyota RAV 4, which had been reported stolen in Ottawa earlier this week.

“The same individuals and vehicle are believed to have been involved in a jewelry store robbery that occurred a short time later in Orleans,” the OPP said.

The Ottawa Police Service is investigating a smash-and-grab robbery at Place d’Orléans at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Three men fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, according to police.

Police did not release a description of the three suspects, nor did they release the name of the targeted business.

It was the 10th smash-and-grab robbery in Ottawa since January.

Anyone with information about the robbery at Place d’Orléans is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service’s Robbery Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5116. If you witnessed the robbery at Alfred or have dashcam video, you can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Alfred, Ont. is 55 km east of Place d’Orléans.