Off-duty cop, security guards injured in Scarborough store robbery

Article content

An off-duty Toronto Police officer and security guards suffered minor injuries during a smash-and-grab jewelry store robbery on Wednesday night.

In posts to the social-media site X on Wednesday, Toronto Police said reports were received at 7:12 p.m. about a retail robbery in the Progress Ave.-Borough Dr. area of Scarborough.

Article content

Police said it’s alleged that two suspects used hammers to smash display cases and grab products.

The off-duty officer and security guards pursued the accused and were “pepper-sprayed” by the suspects, police said.

Article content

It wasn’t immediately clear how many security guards were injured. Police said they didn’t immediately know how much product was taken.

The first suspect was described as a male with short hair. He was wearing a blue medical mask, black jacket and pants.

The second suspect was described as a male in his early 20s with a slim build. He was wearing black pants, white shoes and orange gloves.

The suspect vehicle was described as a small white sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 416-808-4300.

Article content

The incident came on the same day of a dramatic arrest downtown that included an officer suffering a gash to his face.

Sources told the Toronto Sun that the earlier takedown on Wednesday might have been related to an undercover operation targeting a suspect or suspects in the stabbing of an off-duty police officer earlier this month. The cop had been shopping at a Scarborough Best Buy when four armed robbers barged into the store.

In a separate incident last week, a getaway car from a jewelry heist rammed a police car before six suspects got out near Exhibition Place and fled.

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old man is accused of nearly running down Durham Regional Police officers and ramming cruisers while trying to outrun the law early Sunday.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Article content