Waterloo Regional Police are trying to identify the three people responsible for a smash-and-grab robbery at the Cambridge Centre Mall.
Officers were called to an unnamed jewelry store inside the Hespeler Road shopping centre around 8:15 p.m. Monday.
“Three unknown masked males entered the business armed with hammers,” said Const. Brad Hickey. “The suspects smashed the display cases and stole merchandise.”
He did not say what, or how much, was taken.
Police believe they got away in a vehicle that waiting in the parking lot.
The suspects are described as “brown” males, with thin builds, are believed to be in their late teens or early 20s and were last seen carrying duffel bags.
Police also shared security images of three people they want to speak to as part of the investigation.
No one was hurt during the robbery.
Police called the incident concerning.
“Especially this time of year, based on the number of people that are out shopping at the malls during the holiday season,” Hickey said. “The malls are very busy. There’s a lot of people out with family, children, elderly people. It’s just the safety of everyone at the mall.”
Recent robberies
There have been several jewelry store robberies reported in Waterloo Region this year.
- A 16-year-old and 17-year-old were arrested in April for a robbery that happened at Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener on Jan. 8
- Five teenaged boys were arrested for a robbery at the Conestoga Mall in Waterloo on Feb. 15
- On May 18, four masked man carrying hammers and a handgun smashed display cases and stole jewelry from IceWave Jewellers at Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener
- IceWave was targeted again, days later on May 28, when four masked male suspects destroyed displays and took off in a dark-coloured sedan driven by a fifth suspect
- On June 18, the owners of Hartman Jewellers in Elmira woke up to a call from Waterloo Regional Police saying thieves had broken their front door and stole mostly sterling silver bracelets
- On August 21, Waterloo Regional Police launched a suspect search after a theft from a store at the Cambridge Centre Mall
- Three teens were arrested for armed robbery at MT Jewellers & Goldsmiths at Highland Hills Mall in Kitchener on Sept. 6. In that case, witnesses chased down the suspects and held them in a mall hallway until police arrived
Anyone with information on the smash-and-grab is asked to call WRPS at 519-570-9777, ext. 8255. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online to Crime Stoppers or by calling 1-800-222-8477.
