Teens charged in robberies, carjackings

Seniors targeted in some incidents

Hamilton police allege three teens, armed with what they now believe was an imitation gun, worked together to rob at least five people, including a woman in her 80s forced to drive around and withdraw cash.

On Monday night, following the string of robberies that began Thursday, police identified the getaway vehicle — only described as dark in colour — which led them to the three teens, aged 15, 16 and 18.

“With so many (robberies) clustered and close together, it was very disturbing for us and the community,” said Staff Sgt. Dave Beech.

The spree began in Ancaster around 3:45 p.m. Thursday when the woman in her 80s got into her car in the Best Buy parking lot at 14 Martindale Cres.

One of the teens was allegedly already in the back seat and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at her. He ordered her to drive around, rummaging through her purse and directing her to a bank machine to withdraw cash.

At one point, he ordered her into the passenger seat so he could drive, before fleeing at Rebecca and Mary streets.

The victim, who asked not to be identified out of fear, called the ordeal “horrible.”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell the story of what happened when contacted Tuesday, saying she felt as though she were in a swamp from which she couldn’t lift herself out.

The woman said she’s grateful for the police work and urged people to always make sure car doors are locked and to look in the back seat.

In a similar case Monday, a woman in her 70s left a PetSmart store in the same Martindale Crescent plaza around 1 p.m., police said. As she was getting into her vehicle, a male jumped into the back seat.

Police said this woman was aware of the earlier robbery and immediately jumped out of her vehicle and screamed for help. The suspect ran away and fled in a dark vehicle.

Later Monday afternoon, around 3:35 p.m., a woman in her 80s got into her vehicle at Limeridge Mall and found a man hiding in the back seat. Police allege he claimed to have a gun and robbed her of cash.

Then, around 8 p.m. a 12-year-old boy was approached on Cranbrook Drive by four males in a dark vehicle. They asked if he had money and flashed a handgun before leaving. The boy ran home where his father called police.

Finally, around 8:30 p.m. a woman was walking home from Mohawk College when she felt something at the back of her neck, police said. When she turned, she found a man pointing what appeared to be a handgun at her. She was robbed of her wallet and cellphone.

The man tried to get into a waiting dark-coloured vehicle, but that vehicle left and the man fled on foot east from West 5th.

Beech said investigators worked to identify this getaway vehicle, which led them to the suspects Monday night.

Police have recovered stolen property and an “imitation pellet pistol.”

No one was injured in any of the robberies, but emotionally they are shaken, Beech said.

It’s not clear why the victims were targeted, but Beech described the robberies as “sporadic,” adding they appear to be more “crimes of opportunity.”

Given the brazen spree, Beech said there may be more robberies or attempted robberies. He encouraged anyone who may have been targeted to call police.

A 16-year-old from Hamilton is charged with five counts of robbery, kidnapping, four counts of pointing a firearm, threatening death and three counts of using a stolen credit card.

A 15-year-old from Hamilton is charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of pointing a firearm.

They cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

An 18-year-old from Toronto is charged with four counts of robbery and three counts of pointing a firearm. Police said his name will be released after he appears in court.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Det. Const. Kevin Heyink at 905-546-8927. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.