Accused teens named in carjackings
Hamilton police have arrested a fourth teen in connection with a string of co-ordinated armed robberies that targeted five people, including three seniors.
Police said Wednesday that 18year-old Nicolas Balogh is charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of pointing a firearm. The Hamilton man was expected to briefly appear in court.
On Monday night, three others, ages 15, 16 and 18, were arrested in connection with the same alleged robberies and appeared in court Tuesday.
The 18-year-old has been identified as Leonardo Tiser of Toronto. He’s facing four counts of robbery and three counts of pointing a firearm.
The 15-year-old is charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of pointing a firearm. The 16year-old 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.
They cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
While it’s alleged the teens worked together, using an imitation gun and dark-coloured getaway vehicle, police also believe the robberies were “crimes of opportunity.”
The spree began in Ancaster around 3:45 p.m. last Thursday when a woman in her 80s got into her car in the Best Buy parking lot at 14 Martindale Cres., and found a teen in her back seat. He allegedly pointed what appeared to be a handgun at her, ordering her to drive around and take money out of a bank machine.
He then ordered her into the passenger seat and drove around, parking and leaving the car downtown.
The next incident happened Monday around 1 p.m., when a suspect tried to get in the back seat of a car belonging to woman in her 70s in the same Martindale Crescent plaza. She jumped out and screamed for help. The suspect fled.
Hours later, around 3:35 p.m., a woman in her 80s got into her vehicle at Limeridge Mall and was robbed by a man hiding her back seat, who claimed to have a gun.
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.
Half an hour later, a woman walking home from Mohawk College had what appeared to be a handgun put to the back of her head. She was robbed of her wallet and cellphone.
Police who found the suspects Monday, say they seized stolen property and an “imitation pellet pistol” believed to have been used in the crimes.
Police encourage anyone who thinks they may have been targeted or who has information to contact Det. Const. Kevin Heyink at 905546-8927. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477.