It was a scene so wild, people thought they were watching a heist movie being filmed.
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This was no movie. What went on the Markdale Mall Wednesday was real.
And surreal.
Canada has become nothing more than a hunting ground for criminals who understand they can violate whoever or whatever they want and nothing will be done to stop them. They smash, grab, swarm, terrorize and steal at will without a care in the world on who is watching them do it.
Usually, such thugs get away with the loot, too.
This time, though, police arrested suspects.
In what was a brazen noontime robbery Wednesday of a jewelry store at the Markham mall, York Regional Police and mall security took down six suspects. Two were found after a minor car crash in the parking lot, and authorities found two others in the bathroom of a nearby restaurant.
But not before bandits caused a lot of damage at Lukfook Jewellry.
Video from a shopper shoes 10 people wearing masks, mostly in black hoodies and carrying hammers, feverishly smashing the windows of the locked store before finally getting the door open. With glass everywhere, they took jewelry from the displays. They had the look about them that they could do this and be consequence free.
Oops.
During their escape, police alleged, officers managed to put half a dozen of them in handcuffs. Four got away, according to police.
Const. Kevin Nebrija told reporters while they are “aware” of the online video, the investigation is still very much in its infancy and there is more work to do. But credit is due to brave officers who had to take on a large group of armed people.
“A foot pursuit occurred,” said police, adding “no one was seriously injured.”
Luckily.
This was not the only robbery like this on this day.
There were other jewelry stores hit in similar fashion at Hillcrest Mall and Sherway Gardens. This type of crime has become such a problem in 2024 that retailers now lock their doors and don’t let anybody in unless they have an appointment.
Every region in the GTA is facing this. Every day.
And the police charge people every day, too. But thanks to an overflowing court and jail system, most alleged criminals are set free on bail long before they ever go to trial.
“We are arresting a lot of really bad guys in Oakville,” said Halton Region Police Chief Steve Tanner. “In a week, one at a home invasion, recovered two stolen autos, four caught for 25 car break-ins and one in a violent home invasion.”
Then the courts grant them bail and off they go. The public gets it now, and so do the criminals.
“Do not catch and release,” urged one person on X about the Markham swarming robbery.
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Based on what has been happening, it’s likely that is exactly what the courts will do. And if they are under the age of 18, the public will not even get to know who is charged.
The bad guys are winning in Canada.
Under the threat of fines or worse, authorities in Canada will make a guy take down his backyard rink or force a mayor to take human rights training. But when it comes violating victims’ safety or property, not only do the alleged perpetrators skate, but they’re given the freedom to go out to commit more crimes.
Perhaps the four men from India — in Canada on student visas — who were charged after Halton Police alleged they smashed car windows and grabbed credit cards from 25 vehicles from Oakville, will leave the country on their own accord.
Or perhaps, they will hang around in a country nice enough to give them an opportunity to obtain a great education and, if the allegations are proven true, a place to rob blind.
“The suspects located vehicles parked in residential driveways and on the street and broke the windows to access the vehicles’ interior,” alleged Halton Regional Police. “Multiple personal items, including cash, debit cards and credit cards were taken with a total of 25 vehicles entries identified.” None of the allegations have been tested in court.
As Tanner said, Halton caught four suspects: “Gurparkar Singh, 19; Akshdeep Singh 20; Kanavpreet Singh, 20; and Dilpreet Singh 21, were arrested and charged.”
All about to be deported back home? Nope.
Instead, all four are now already on bail release.
There’s zero tolerance for some things in Canada and all out tolerance for others.