Video of Attempted Jewelry Store Theft in Toronto Area Goes Viral

A screengrab from a surveillance video showing an attempted smash-and-grab robbery at a Markham, Ont., jewelry store on Oct. 3, 2024. Courtesy Jerry Sorani

Video of a Toronto area jewelry store owner fighting thieves off with a broomstick has gone viral on social media.

Jewellery Forever owner Jerry Sorani told The Epoch Times in a phone interview that it was just a regular day at his shop in Markham, Ont., when three people walked into his store and started smashing display cases.

“I was sitting on my bench, doing some repairs,” he said, adding that he was in a little bit of shock when it started but it didn’t last long.

“We knew this was happening, but nothing like that, just walking casually and smashing showcases, especially in the mall,” Sorani said.

In the video, Sorani can be seen shooing the individuals away with a broomstick.

“I did not even think about it. I just jumped from my bench and started trying to get them out.”

The would-be robbers didn’t say anything, Sorani said.

“They were more shocked I approached them than anything else,” he said. “I guess they don’t experience that because, unfortunately, anywhere they go, I guess everybody stands back and lets it happen.”

York Regional Police (YRP) confirmed the incident happened on Oct. 3, 2024, and that no arrests have been made.

“There have not been any arrests and [there’s] no suspect information to share,” YRP said in an email to The Epoch Times. “The case is still open and being actively investigated.”

Police said they wanted to remind people to put their personal safety first.

“It is difficult to predict the intentions of a criminal but, in most cases a person who commits a robbery wants to get whatever items they are after and leave without getting caught,” YRP said in the email. “Consider that if you resist or struggle, you may cause the offender to escalate their level of physical force to accomplish what they intend to do.”

‘Really No Consequences’

Sorani said that it was not just jewelry stores, but lots of businesses are being targeted.

“They know there’s really no consequences, and I think that’s the source of the problem,” he said.

About two months after Sorani’s store was targeted, six masked men robbed a jewelry store in Toronto’s Fairview Mall on Dec. 16, getting away with a large quantity of jewelry, according to Toronto Police.

Police said the suspects used hammers to smash into the store and break display cases to take jewelry.

They were involved in a vehicle collision as they tried to escape, with the men getting into a second escape vehicle to get away.

On Dec. 5, a vehicle rammed into the front of a Hamilton jewelry store, with suspects smashing display cases and pointing a gun at the owner. Four individuals were charged in that instance, and the store owner was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries.

One day earlier, six people were arrested after a Lukfook Jewellery in Markville Shopping Centre was robbed on Dec. 4.

A Peoples Jewellers store in Hillcrest Mall was robbed by individuals who used hammers to break glass cabinets and take items. Police said they are looking for five suspects.

The GTA saw a spike in robberies in 2024, with a 21 percent increase, according to Fraser Insitute analysis of Toronto Police Service data.

Risk to Public

“If they don’t get punished, it’s going to keep happening,” Sorani said.

He said it presents a problem, not just to those in the stores, but to the public as the criminals attempt to escape.

“When they run, get outside, police chase them, they get in a car accident. They hurt someone,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons they should try to make more effort to stop this ... just getting worse and worse.”

Michael Wing contributed to this report.