HALTON REGION — A sharp rise in armed robberies has kept Halton Regional Police on high alert this past week, with multiple violent incidents reported across Oakville and Burlington. Several of the crimes involved weapons, threats, or physical force, though thankfully no serious injuries were reported.
Burlington GO Station Robbery
The string of incidents began on Tuesday, March 18, around 4:55 p.m., when a man approached a woman at the Burlington GO Station and claimed he had a gun, according to Const. Jeff Dillon, a Halton police media officer.
The suspect stole the victim’s cellphone. While no firearm was seen, police quickly responded and made an arrest nearby.
A 21-year-old man with no fixed address now faces charges including:
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Robbery
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Possession for the purpose of trafficking (after police recovered fentanyl during a search)
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Failure to comply with a release order
The victim was unharmed.
Attempted Robbery at Oakville Jewelry Store
Less than 24 hours later, at 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19, police responded to an attempted smash-and-grab at Oakville Jewelry, located at 255 Lakeshore Rd. E.
According to Dillon, a man and woman entered the store wielding a hammer, smashing display cases. A third male suspect held the door open.
During the incident, an employee was struck in the shoulder with a hammer, sustaining minor injuries. No jewelry was taken, as employees intervened.
The trio fled in a black Nissan Altima, which was later found abandoned near Lakeshore and Trafalgar Roads. Police confirmed the car had been reported stolen in Peel Region.
Descriptions of the suspects:
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Male suspect 1: Larger build, long black hair (possibly a wig), black jacket and pants, black and white shoes, face covering.
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Male suspect 2: Medium build, black winter jacket, black pants, checkered toque, face covering.
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Female suspect: Thin build, approximately 5’6″, dark hair, black top and jacket, blue jeans, white hat, brown boots, face covering.
Armed Robbery at Oakville Hotel
Earlier that same day, at 2:45 a.m., a woman was robbed at the Monte Carlo Inn on South Service Road in Oakville. Police allege three suspects confronted the victim, with one holding a large knife and another wielding a hatchet.
The suspects stole her wallet and cellphone, though she was not physically injured.
Following an investigation, three individuals were arrested:
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A 42-year-old man of no fixed address
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A 46-year-old man from Milton
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A 31-year-old woman of no fixed address
All three face charges of:
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Robbery
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Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
The Milton man also faces additional charges for breaching previous release and probation orders.
Armed Robbery at Freedom Mobile
Later that evening, around 7:45 p.m., a Freedom Mobile store located at 3505 Upper Middle Road in Burlington was robbed by four masked men, one of whom allegedly brandished a firearm.
The suspects confronted a female employee and demanded access to the store’s back room before making off with multiple cellphones. The employee was not physically harmed.
No detailed suspect descriptions have been released.
No Connections Between Incidents
Despite the timing and similarity of these incidents, Const. Dillon stated that none of the robberies appear to be connected.
Halton police continue to investigate all cases and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
