Ottawa jewelry store robbery latest in trend of ‘concerning' incidents, experts say
A brazen daytime robbery at an Ottawa jewelry store is just the latest in series of similar concerning incidents in recent months.
A video captures a stolen pickup truck ramming the front of Rafidain & Co. on Bank Street last week where four or five masked men broke through the store's front entrance before stealing items and driving off in a getaway silver SUV.
Police are also investigating similar smash-and-grabs at jewellers in Place d'Orléans Shopping Centre, Bayshore Shopping Mall and Tanger Outlets.
One person was arrested following the Bayshore Mall robbery but so far, few charges or arrests have been announced.
'These jewelry store robberies are getting more and more brazen and the risk to public safety is very concerning,' said CTV News public safety analyst Chris Lewis.
It's something that isn't just happening in Ottawa, he says. Other similar robberies have been happening with an 'alarming frequency' across Canada, including Toronto and western provinces.
'They're concerning because the risk to public safety is increasing every time. These are happening because it's relatively low risk and relatively high gain. Jewelry is obviously worth a lot of money. These are largely controlled by organized crime,' he said.
Retail analyst Bruce Winder agrees the issue has become increasingly problematic.
'This has become sort of an epidemic of crime against particularly jewelry stores,' Winder said.
'Some folks sort of run into a mall with hammers and smash and grab. Other folks are starting to use vehicles, to back into these stores.'
He says stores can hire more protection through armed security guards during business hours, but admits those services are pricey.
'This isn't cheap, and you would have to build that into your prices of your jewelry,' he said.
Winder also suggests using some form of parking blockades, such as bollards or posts, to keep a truck or vehicle from being able to smash through.
The store manager of Raidain & Co. did not want to appear on camera but told CTV News Tuesday that the suspects were in his store for less than 30 seconds. He says after crashing the vehicle through the front, the suspects used hammers to smash through a display case.
The owner of the Bank Street jeweller says that just last month, he placed large cement flower planters directly in front of the store, but it appears the suspects rammed the window at an angle.
The business re-opened at noon on Tuesday. The store owner also says that customers' merchandise left for repair or appraisal is safe from the incident.
The Ottawa Police Service is investigating the incident.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's William Eltherington
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