Two charged in smash-and-grab jewelry store heists in Mississauga

A 19-year-old man and a youth have been charged in connection with a pair of smash-and-grab jewelry store heists in Mississauga’s west end this week, one in which a fake gun was used.

In the most recent robbery, two culprits armed with what appeared to be a handgun and hammer smashed display cases in the jewelry department of a store inside Erin Mills Town Centre on Wednesday night at about 7 p.m.

Peel Regional Police said in a news release the two robbers stole “multiple pieces of jewelry” before fleeing the scene.

Investigators believe the same two people, in addition to a third person, robbed a jewelry store on Monday afternoon at about 3:15 p.m. inside South Common Mall, located a couple of blocks south of Erin Mills Town Centre.

In that heist, three masked culprits entered the store and began smashing display cases, police said. They grabbed various pieces of jewelry before fleeing from the store.

Shortly after the Wednesday night robbery, police tracked two suspects into Toronto, where arrests were made. Police recovered a stolen vehicle in addition to items from the robberies and a replica handgun.

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Ali-Cem Vural, 19, of Woodbridge, and a youth, who cannot be identified, are each charged with two counts of robbery and two counts wearing disguise in addition to three counts of possession of stolen property.

Both were held for bail hearings in Brampton court.

The investigation continues as police are seeking a third person in connection with at least one of the heists.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact investigators at 905-453-2121, ext. 3410, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.