Four people have been arrested and a fifth is being sought after a smash-and-grab at a jewellery store in Stratford.
Multiple 911 calls came in to Stratford police around 6 p.m. Wednesday regarding the robbery at Paris Jewellers. Investigators were told five people walked into the store in the Stratford Mall and began smashing display cases and stealing items.
They then took off with an unknown amount of jewellery in a white SUV. The suspect vehicle was seen heading east out of the city.
An employee of the store suffered minor injuries during the robbery.
Police notified neighbouring police services about the incident. Roughly an hour later, OPP advised that the suspect vehicle had been found at the Sunrise Shopping Centre in Kitchener and four of the five suspects were taken into police custody. They were taken back to Stratford police headquarters to be held for a bail hearing.
Police have charged 27-year-old Julian Johnson of Richmond Hill in connection with the robbery. He is also facing charges for allegedly assaulting an officer while in custody, as well as Mischief Under $5,000 for alleged damage to property.
The identity of the remaining three offenders is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, as police charged a 15-year-old of Toronto, a 16-year-old of Richmond Hill, and a 17-year-old from Nova Scotia.
Police there is around 55 charges pending between the four, including robbery, disguise with intent, forcible confinement, uttering threats and possession of stolen property.
A search of the area for the fifth suspect was conducted, but was unsuccessful, police said. A description of that individual has not been provided.
Police credited employees of the jewellery story and witnesses who provided information to investigators for the quick arrests.
A second involved vehicle was also recovered by police, as they found a white Dodge Durango reported stolen from Toronto abandoned on Road 111 near Hwy 7/8 following the robbery.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call police at 519-271-4141. Video of dash cam footage can also be uploaded to the police service's website by clicking here.
Paris Jewellers was targeted in a similar smash-and-grab robbery in January 2024. In that incident four people made off with more than $100,000 worth of items.
Two 21-year-old men were later arrested in Niagara Falls in connection with the robbery.
In November 2024, a man grabbed a number of items from the store and ran off.
