The Toronto Police Service would like to update the public on arrests in the recent series of street robberies within a one-km. radius of
Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.
On Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at 2 p.m., a robbery took place in the
Yonge and Eglinton Centre.
It is alleged that:
- a 14-year-old boy was walking into the mall through the Orchard View Boulevard entrance
- a group of six boys called out to the boy as he was walking
- the boy walked back to the group, and the group made demands for his personal property
- one of the boys produced a knife and physically attacked the boy
- the boy's jacket was taken and they fled
On Thursday, February 1, 2018, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with:
1) Robbery with an offensive weapon
The boy was scheduled to appear in court at 311 Jarvis Street on Thursday, March 15, 2018, 9 a.m.
On Monday, February 5, 2018, at 1:40 p.m., a robbery occurred inside the
Yonge Eglinton Centre.
It is alleged that:
- a 14-year-old boy was inside the mall
- two boys suddenly grabbed the boy from behind and pulled him around a corner
- one of the boys demanded personal property, while the other stood as a lookout
- a security guard walked by, and interrupted the attack
- the two boys fled the area
- a quantity of cash was taken
On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged with:
1) Robbery
The boy is scheduled to appear in court at 311 Jarvis Street on Monday, March 19, 2018, 9 a.m.
On Thursday, February 8, 2018, at 4 p.m., a robbery occurred inside the
Yonge Eglinton Centre.
It is alleged that:
- a 14-year-old boy was inside the mall, selling tickets to a school event
- a group of six boys followed the boy through the mall
- the boy entered a store in the mall, and two boys from the group approached him
- the boy was physically threatened and they made demands for his personal property
- the other boys stood as lookouts
- the boy's backpack, cash and cellphone were stolen
Between Tuesday, February 27, 2018, and Sunday, March 11, 2018, three boys, a 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds, were arrested. They are charged with:
1) Robbery
2) Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000
The boys appeared in court at 311 Jarvis Street on various dates between Wednesday, February 28, 2018 and Sunday, March 11, 2018, at 9 a.m.
On Friday, February 23, 2018, at 11:57 p.m., a robbery occurred in the middle of the
Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue intersection.
It is alleged that:
- three boys and a girl were walking through the Yonge Eglinton Centre
- a group of boys followed the three boys and girl as they proceeded through the mall
- when they walked out onto the sidewalk at the intersection of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, the group of boys began to attack the boys and girl
- they made demands for their personal property, and one of the boy's shoes
- the attack was interrupted by two unknown Good Samaritans who were in the area
- a baseball hat was taken prior to the attack being interrupted
On Thursday, March 1, 2018, a 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with:
1) Robbery with violence
2) Possession of a schedule II substance
He was scheduled to appear in court at 311 Jarvis Street on Friday, March 2, 2018, 9 a.m.
None of those arrested can be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
There have been a total of six arrests and ten criminal charges laid, with several suspects still outstanding. There have been an additional four incidents of street robberies since the initial public safety alert released on Monday, February 26, 2018.
See previous release.
In the most recent robbery, on Thursday, March 8, 2018, a handgun was indicated and a knife was shown to the victims.
The incidents continue to be swarming-type robberies involving teenagers targeting other teenagers in which several suspects approach the victims and demand personal property. In all of these incidents, violent acts were committed or threatened.
The week of March Break runs from Saturday, March 10, 2018, to Sunday, March 18, 2018. Teenagers will be out in public more during this time. The Toronto Police Service is again requesting the public to be vigilant in the area of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.
The Toronto Police Service is also requesting anyone who is a victim, or who witnesses this type of incident, to contact police as soon as practicable. Participation from the public is heavily encouraged as investigators are running into the issue of victims and/or witnesses unwilling to come forward to report incidents. Participation from these parties will greatly assist in the apprehension of suspects and prevention of further incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at
www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
For more news, visit
TPSnews.ca.