Hamilton Police Arrest Five Youths After Smash-and-Grab at Eastgate Mall

Hamilton Police have arrested five individuals and recovered all stolen property following a brazen, broad-daylight smash-and-grab robbery at a local jewelry store.

On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at approximately 7:51 p.m., four masked suspects entered Peoples Jewellers at 75 Centennial Parkway North, situated on the west side of Eastgate Mall. In a matter of seconds, the suspects used hammers to shatter display cases and began seizing valuable merchandise, their actions, lasting roughly 20 seconds. Mall security personnel quickly responded to the disturbance, security guards bravely made their presence known, prompting the suspects to flee toward the west entrance. One guard followed the group at a safe distance, recording video and noting that the suspects entered a grey Honda Civic with distinctive silver trim before fleeing westbound on Queenston Road. Multiple 911 calls flooded Hamilton’s Communications Centre, offering detailed descriptions of the suspects: four male youths, wearing black ski masks—three in black sweaters and one in grey.

Hamilton Police Uniform Patrol members swiftly located the fleeing suspect vehicle, which was travelling at a dangerous speed through congested traffic on Queenston Road. The vehicle struck a curb and came to an abrupt stop on the Red Hill Valley Parkway off-ramp with two flat tires. As the four occupants fled on foot, patrol officers maintained visual continuity of the vehicle and relayed suspect descriptions and directions of travel to backup units in the area. Through a coordinated and determined police response, uniform patrol, B.E.A.R. and H.E.A.T.  officers apprehended all suspects within minutes:

  • A 17-year-old male from Brampton and an 18-year-old male from Mississauga were arrested following a short foot pursuit at 7:56 p.m.
  • Another 17-year-old male, also from Brampton, was taken into custody at 8:00 p.m. after attempting to flee on foot along Eaton Place. He was found to be breaching multiple conditions of a release order, including a house arrest and weapons prohibition.
  • Two additional youths, aged 13 and 16, both from Toronto, were arrested at 8:11 p.m. in the area of Eastvale Place and Armstrong Avenue. Officers noted both matched suspect descriptions and were visibly fatigued. One youth was missing a shoe, which was later found in the suspect vehicle. One of the individuals was also bound by release conditions prohibiting unauthorized motor vehicle use and weapons possession.

The suspect vehicle, a 2020 grey Honda Civic, was confirmed stolen out of Toronto. Inside the vehicle, officers observed bear spray, black plastic bags, jewellery, a hammer, and the aforementioned missing shoe. All stolen merchandise was recovered from the vehicle. The car was seized and towed to the Investigative Services Division for forensic examination. Forensic investigators also processed both the vehicle and the scene at Peoples Jewellers.

All five individuals face the following charges:

  • Robbery
  • Possession Over $5,000 (Stolen Vehicle)
  • Disguise with Intent

Due to the seriousness of the offence and the organized nature of the crime, bail was opposed.

This robbery was a deliberate and coordinated crime carried out by individuals from outside the city, reflecting a concerning trend of similar "smash-and-grab" incidents across the GTHA. Thanks to timely community reporting, the attentiveness of mall security, and a swift, coordinated police response, all suspects were located and arrested within 20 minutes, and the stolen property was successfully recovered. Hamilton Police continue to work closely with local businesses and residents to address these types of targeted crimes and ensure a safe environment for all. The valuable support of Eastgate Mall security staff and members of the public played a key role in the resolution of this incident.

Formal notices under the Youth Criminal Justice Act have been served to the parents of the involved youths.

Hamilton Police remain committed to community safety and to responding decisively to those who threaten it. For those who wish to provide information anonymously, please consider reaching out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at Crime Stoppers Hamilton's Website.

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Hamilton Police Arrest Five Youths After Smash-and-Grab at Eastgate Mall