Latest news with #smashandgrab
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa jewelry store robbery latest in trend of ‘concerning' incidents, experts say
The boarded up window of an Ottawa jewelry store after a robbery on May 30, 2025. (CTV News Ottawa) A brazen daytime robbery at an Ottawa jewelry store is just the latest in series of similar concerning incidents in recent months. A video captures a stolen pickup truck ramming the front of Rafidain & Co. on Bank Street last week where four or five masked men broke through the store's front entrance before stealing items and driving off in a getaway silver SUV. Police are also investigating similar smash-and-grabs at jewellers in Place d'Orléans Shopping Centre, Bayshore Shopping Mall and Tanger Outlets. One person was arrested following the Bayshore Mall robbery but so far, few charges or arrests have been announced. 'These jewelry store robberies are getting more and more brazen and the risk to public safety is very concerning,' said CTV News public safety analyst Chris Lewis. It's something that isn't just happening in Ottawa, he says. Other similar robberies have been happening with an 'alarming frequency' across Canada, including Toronto and western provinces. 'They're concerning because the risk to public safety is increasing every time. These are happening because it's relatively low risk and relatively high gain. Jewelry is obviously worth a lot of money. These are largely controlled by organized crime,' he said. Retail analyst Bruce Winder agrees the issue has become increasingly problematic. 'This has become sort of an epidemic of crime against particularly jewelry stores,' Winder said. 'Some folks sort of run into a mall with hammers and smash and grab. Other folks are starting to use vehicles, to back into these stores.' He says stores can hire more protection through armed security guards during business hours, but admits those services are pricey. 'This isn't cheap, and you would have to build that into your prices of your jewelry,' he said. Winder also suggests using some form of parking blockades, such as bollards or posts, to keep a truck or vehicle from being able to smash through. The store manager of Raidain & Co. did not want to appear on camera but told CTV News Tuesday that the suspects were in his store for less than 30 seconds. He says after crashing the vehicle through the front, the suspects used hammers to smash through a display case. The owner of the Bank Street jeweller says that just last month, he placed large cement flower planters directly in front of the store, but it appears the suspects rammed the window at an angle. The business re-opened at noon on Tuesday. The store owner also says that customers' merchandise left for repair or appraisal is safe from the incident. The Ottawa Police Service is investigating the incident. With files from CTV News Ottawa's William Eltherington
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher's cannabis shop hit in overnight burglary
The Woods WeHo, a cannabis dispensary and lounge co-owned by Woody Harrelson, Bill Maher and John McEnroe, was targeted in a smash-and-grab burglary. On Saturday, May 17, around 4:30 a.m., surveillance footage, shared by Elliot Lewis, the founder and CEO of Catalyst Cannabis, on Instagram captured five masked individuals smashing through the glass entrance of the West Hollywood, California, store. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed with Fox News Digital that the hooded burglars stole approximately $2,000 to $3,000 worth of merchandise from the cannabis storefront before fleeing. "Does nobody care about the people trying to build something up and they seem to only care about those trying to destroy," Lewis wrote in the caption of the video. "Make it make sense. Please bring back some common sense." The following night, the same group attempted to burglarize ERBA Markets, another dispensary partially owned by the same group, police said. The group of five suspects were confronted by an armed security guard who opened fire, prompting the suspects to flee without stealing anything. "Shots fired! Shot fired! Shots fired! That's the only way to defend what's yours in the city of L.A.," Lewis said in an Instagram reel. "Years of bad policy have led us to this. There have to be consequences for the Jack Boys. Somebody is going to get hurt. Somebody is going to get killed. Let's get some common sense and bring back some deterrents." The sheriff's department said that the five suspects were wearing similar clothing and had similar stature. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating both incidents, and the suspects remain at large. As of now, neither Harrelson nor Maher has publicly commented on the burglaries. Fox News Digital reached out to the Woods WeHo.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- CBS News
Thieves smash into jewelry store in Chicago's West Loop
Kay Jewelers in West Loop hit in lunchtime smash-and-grab Kay Jewelers in West Loop hit in lunchtime smash-and-grab Kay Jewelers in West Loop hit in lunchtime smash-and-grab Thieves smashed their way into the Kay Jewelers store in Chicago's West Loop and stole jewelry Tuesday afternoon. Police said at 12:09 p.m., four thieves smashed into the jewelry store in The Maxwell complex at 1010 S. Canal St., and used blunt objects to break the glass containers. They stole the jewelry, and bounced in the car with the goods. No injuries were reported, police said. No one was in custody late Tuesday. Belmont Area detectives were investigating.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- CTV News
2 people arrested following smash-and-grab robbery in Scarborough
A Toronto police cruiser is seen in this file image. Two people have been arrested following a smash-and-grab robbery at a business in Scarborough Tuesday afternoon. Police say they received a call for a robbery at a business near Progress Avenue and Kennedy Road just before 5 p.m. An unknown number of suspects smashed display cases and stole items before fleeing the scene in a car, police say. Shortly after, police say the suspects hit another vehicle. They fled on foot and two were later arrested, police say. It is unclear if there are other outstanding suspects. No one was physically injured in the two incidents, police say.
CTV News
10-05-2025
- CTV News
Ottawa smash-and-grab caught on camera
A jewelry store in the Place d'Orléans Shopping Centre is the latest to be targeted by a brazen smash-and-grab. The incident was caught on camera. CTV's Josh Marano reports.
