An Oakville mall remains cordoned off this morning as police search for suspects in the attempted robbery of a high-end jewellery store.
Police say the incident at Olde Oakville Market Plaza, at 321 Cornwall Rd., was connected with an afternoon home invasion at the Burlington home of the jewellery store manager Jon Walker.
Walker, his wife Dawn, and their 7-month-old baby were left bound and gagged at their Burlington residence by an armed man after Walker came home around 6:45 p.m.
Investigators say the man stole the keys to the jewellery store and to their car before making his way to the store.
Meanwhile, the Walkers managed to free themselves and call the police, who found their Honda Civic in front of the store around 8:30 p.m.
Police cordoned off the mall and closed off two blocks of Cornwall Rd. just east of Trafalgar Rd., south of the Queen Elizabeth Way, but could not contact anyone inside the store.
Just before 11:30 p.m., a police tactical unit deployed "distraction devices" such as tear gas and concussion grenades in the mall stores before officers searched the area for two armed suspects, said Halton Police Insp. Ivan Lortye.
At approximately 12:15 a.m., tactical officers entered the business and cleared it. No one was found inside.
As of this morning, the suspects have not been found. Police are still on scene clearing each store because they are all attached, Halton police Staff Sgt. Dave Pollard said around 4:30 a.m.
Police were providing few details about the incident, which began at about 3 p.m. at the Walker’s East Side Cres. home, northwest of Guelph Line and Lakeshore Rd.
One neighbour said police told residents that the couple had been victims of a planned robbery.
"Apparently someone came by with a gun and waited for him to come home," said the neighbour, who didn’t give his name.
The neighbour said Dawn ran to several houses around 8 p.m., shouting about a break-in and asking someone to "call 911."
"She was totally frenzied, panicked," the neighbour said, adding that the intruders had already fled.
He said he heard from other neighbours that Dawn had been struck in the jaw.
"I saw Jon leaving with the baby in his hands and he was still in his suit. He waved to me, hopped in an ambulance and left," the neighbour said.
Dawn was taken away in a second ambulance.
"They were just telling us how quiet the neighbourhood is here and they were going to live here for years," the neighbour said.
According to its website, Knar Jewellery is a family-owned business that specializes in fine jewellery, selling high-end brands such as Rolex, Fabergé, Cartier, and Mont Blanc.
The store first opened as a small jewellery shop downtown Kitchener in 1978 by brothers Greg and Jeff Buzbuzian. They later opened stores in Guelph, Cambridge, and Oakville. The store is affiliated with the American Gem Society and the Canadian Jewellers Association.
No comments:
Post a Comment