28 robberies with guns in the last 30 days in Mississauga and Brampton

Business owners in Mississauga and Brampton are encouraged to keep an eye on their neighbours as businesses in the region experience armed robberies.

According to Peel Police crime mapping data, the region has seen 43 robberies in the time between May 19 and June 16.

Out of those 43 robberies, 28 are reported to have involved a gun. The other 15 incidents are said to have involved “other offensive weapons”.

Peel Regional Police Crime Map showing 43 robberies in the time between May 19 and June 16.

Peel Regional Police have responded to multiple reports of armed robberies in Brampton in the last week.

On Thursday (June 16), a robbery took place shortly after 11 p.m. at a personal care business in the area of Brickyard Way and Main St. North near Williams Pkwy.

Police say a weapon was seen and an unknown amount of cash was taken.

And just yesterday (June 17) two individuals were apprehended after they robbed a commercial business with an imitation handgun in the area of Hurontario St. and Bovaird Dr. East.

Police believe the same pair were involved in five other similar robberies that took place in Brampton this week between Wed. June 15 and Thurs. June 16.

A combined 22 charges have been laid against Roland Bruce and Ashley Killins, both of Brampton.

The charges are related to six separate robberies.

Along with imitation handguns, police are seizing real, loaded guns as well.

On June 7, three Brampton men and one Mississauga man were arrested after robbing a pharmacy on Speers Rd. in Oakville.

Police later apprehended the men as they were leaving a Mississauga restaurant.

Several large bottles of narcotics and a loaded Glock 40 calibre handgun were found in their possession.

Tahjae Cameron (21) of Brampton, Braimah Musah (22) of Brampton, Pablo Banton (18) of Brampton, and Treyvaun Gomez (19) of Mississauga have all been charged.

Peel Regional Peel recognize on their website that “survey results in the Peel Region show that the crimes of most concern for businesses are break-ins, thefts, frauds and cyber frauds.”

The police recommend the following tips for robbery prevention of a business as well as some survival techniques in the event of a robbery.

Robbery Prevention Tips

• Aim to be a good shop-neighbor and form community partnerships with other retailers, property management and police.
• Provide all staff with robbery prevention training.
• Ensure you have a properly working surveillance system.
• Ensure you have proper lighting inside and outside your premise, and remember to maintain them.
• Reduce the amount of cash on hand by making frequent cash drops.
• Use Store Layout
  • Store layout is critical in reducing crime; a properly formatted store will not only result in increased sales but reduce theft and loss as well.
  • Have low shelving to improve view of customers.
  • Place your shelves in a way that allows employees to see between the aisles from the sales counter.
  • Remove all excessive window signage or clutter from the sales area and other critical lines of sight.

In the Event of a Robbery

• Try to remain calm.
• Comply with the demands of the robber.
• Tell the robber everything you are going to do before you do it so that they do not aggressively react to your sudden movements.
• Give only what you are asked for.
• Try to note distinct characteristics of the robber, surfaces touched, weapon description and direction they fled.