Toronto cops are hunting a massive, organized ring of pharmacy and bank robbers who, more often than not, have one thing in common — an Ottawa address.
Between June 30 and Oct. 15, 2010, the group — believed to be all Somali men — hit a slew of Shoppers Drug Mart stores, banks and other retail stores throughout Toronto, Peel, Halton, York and Barrie.
Police suspect them to be responsible for 10 bank robberies and 13 pharmacy robberies in that time, as well as 17 additional pharmacy robberies in Montreal by a single member of the robbery ring.
Each time, the MO is the same — a note is passed to the clerk at the pharmacy demanding oxycontin and claiming they have a gun. Sometimes the robber will lift their shirt and show the butt of a gun sticking out of their pants.
When notes are passed at banks they demand a specific amount of cash and also indicate they have a gun.
Toronto Police hold up squad Staff Insp. Mike Earl has amassed a pile of security camera photos of suspects and thinks there’s more than a good chance somebody in Ottawa will recognize them.
“They’ve crossed the lower part of the province,” he said. “Kitchener, Hamilton, Toronto and Barrie. There have been some arrests in Hamilton, Kingston and Ottawa, but not the main guys. We believe they’re part of a bigger group and they’re very organized.”
He said some of the men he’s seeking have done one or two robberies per day.
One suspect was spotted in five different banks on July 12, 2010 in Oakville, Mississauga and Burlington.
Practically all of those arrested have had an Ottawa address at some point.
“We believe they may be based there,” Earl said.
Ottawa Police’s robbery unit investigators confirm they have been contacted by Toronto Police, and say they are working with them and sharing information.
There are nearly 40 robbery suspect photos in the “crime files” section of Ottawa Police’s website under “people to identify and find.”
Anyone with information about them is asked to call 613-236-1222, ext. 5112.
Those with information about the Somali suspects should call the Toronto Police Hold Up Squad at 416-808-7350 or e-mail them at holdupsquad@torontopolice.on.ca. Anonymous tips can also be made to Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Rewards may be offered for tips that lead to an arrest.
Well I was born in Toronto,but left.
