Jewellery store robbery suspects face more charges

The four suspects in a frightening smash and grab robbery at a London jewellery store are facing more charges.

London police announced Wednesday that more charges have been laid against 34-year-old Matthew Darren Simpson, 30-year-old Troy John Wolfe, 29-year-old Nevin E. McCrea, and 25-year-old Mason Rylee Ireland. The four were charged last week with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence in connection with the March 19 robbery at Gordon's Gold Jewellers on Hyde Park Road.

Around 6:30 p.m. that evening, a car pulled up in front of the store and two men wearing masks went inside. They told employees to get on the floor while they smashed display cases with a sledgehammer. According to London police, the men snatched a “significant amount of jewellery” before they got back into the awaiting car and took off. Police were able to follow the car to a location on River Road in the Oneida of the Thames First Nation. With help from the OPP, Strathroy-Caradoc police, and Oneida of the Thames police, four men were taken into custody. Charges were laid two days later.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, police seized a semi-automatic handgun and laid additional charges.

Simpson has been charged with:

• Three counts of careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Occupying a motor vehicle with a firearm
• Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence
• Two counts of possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon or prohibited device with no authority
• Two counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon.

Wolfe has been charged with:

• Three counts of careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Occupying a motor vehicle with a firearm
• Operation of a motor vehicle while prohibited
• Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence
• Two counts of possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon or prohibited device with no authority
• Three counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order
• Two counts of unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon.

McCrea has been charged with:

• Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Occupying a motor vehicle with firearm
• Possession of a prohibited weapon or prohibited device
• Possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition

Ireland has been charged with:

• Careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Occupy motor vehicle with firearm
• Possession of a prohibited weapon or prohibited device
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition

Police are also looking for another suspect. Charmaine Jacobs, 27, of London is charged with:

• Two counts of careless storage of a firearm, weapon, prohibited device or ammunition
• Possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without a licence
• Possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon or prohibited device with no authority
• Two counts of possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to prohibition order
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
• Unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon

Anyone with information in relation to Charmaine Jacobs’ whereabouts is asked to call the London Police Service at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent in online anonymously to www.londoncrimestoppers.com.