A brazen daylight attempt to steal a pair of skates escalated into a frightening ordeal in downtown Toronto last week. Police responded to a store near Dundas Street West and Bay Street around 4:40 p.m. on December 17th, alerted to a robbery in progress.
The incident took a dangerous turn when security personnel confronted the three suspects. Instead of surrendering the stolen goods, the individuals reportedly brandished a firearm before fleeing the scene, leaving the skates behind.
Police have released descriptions of the three men sought in connection with the attempted robbery. The first is described as being between 5’8” and 5’10”, with a slim build, unshaven face, and wearing a balaclava, black jacket, and black jeans with white lettering.
The second suspect is approximately 5’7”, with a muscular build and facial hair, also concealed by a balaclava. He was seen wearing a black hoodie, puffer jacket, track pants, and carrying a black backpack.
The third individual is described as being between 5’9” and 5’10”, with a medium build, short black twists, and a distinctive scar under his right eye. He wore a black hoody with the phrase “Get on my LVL” in white lettering, along with a puffer jacket and black pants.
In a separate case, a new charge has been laid in connection with a significant theft and fraud investigation involving Amazon. The investigation began in November after Amazon Loss Prevention contacted police regarding suspicious activity at a fulfillment center in Ajax.
A search of a storage locker in Newmarket recently uncovered an additional $130,000 worth of electronics and merchandise allegedly stolen from the Amazon facility. This discovery led to a new charge against Mehul Baldevbhai Patel, 36, of Newmarket.
Patel now faces a charge of possession of stolen property over $5,000, adding to previous charges of fraud and theft, both also exceeding $5,000. Authorities believe the thefts occurred over a period of two years, involving employees of the fulfillment center.
Anyone with information regarding either the attempted skate robbery or the Amazon theft is urged to contact the appropriate police authorities. Investigators are seeking any details that could assist in these ongoing investigations.
