Stolen truck used in jewelry smash-and-grab
A stolen pickup truck was used to smash through the storefront of a north St. Catharines jewelry store early Wednesday morning, before it was found in flames by police officers.
Niagara Regional Police responded to an 4:05 a.m. alarm at a jewelry store at The Gold Market at Port Plaza at the intersection of Ontario Street and Lakeport Road.
When officers arrived, it could be seen that a white Ford 350 pickup truck with a front-end plow had reversed into the store.
The truck was engulfed in flames, which police in a news release Wednesday night said caused minor fire damage to the exterior of the business and prevented officers from entering. Officers also observed a significant fire in the store.
St. Catharines firefighters extinguished the fire. Officers were delayed in entering the premise until the structure was deemed safe, the news release said.
Police said unknown suspects smashed multiple display cases and stole an assortment of jewelry. The value of the stolen property has not been determined, police said.
Damage to the business is estimated to be in excess of $75,000, police said.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The pickup truck was totalled by the impact and fire damage, police said.