York Police Identify 1 of 2 Suspects in Vaughan Mall Robbery

The crest of the York Regional Police on the headquarters building in Aurora, Ontario, on Sept. 15, 2020. Shutterstock

York Regional Police (YRP) has identified one of two suspects who allegedly drove through a shopping mall in Vaughan, Ont., in a case of “break, enter, and theft.”

Investigators with the YRP have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a 19-year-old man involved in the robbery at a retail store in Vaughan Mills mall, police said in a statement on Feb. 9.

“Investigators continue to search for the second male suspect involved in this incident and are appealing for witnesses to come forward who may have been in the area at the time of the incident and have not yet spoken to police,” said the statement.

The first suspect is identified as Israel Muamba of Montreal. He is described as male, black, and around 6'3” in height.

Muamba is facing several charges, including one count each of breaking and entering, mischief over $5,000, disguise with intent, theft over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and dangerous driving.

On Feb. 1, at approximately 1:10 a.m., officers responded to the mall after a 2011 Black Audi A4 was driven through the glass doors at one of the entrances. The vehicle was then driven through the mall to an electronics store where the suspects stole a number of items. The suspects then drove the vehicle out of the mall through a second entrance.

“Thanks to information from the public and Halton Regional Police, on February 1, investigators located the 2011 black Audi sedan in the area of James Snow Parkway and Highway 401,” the police said in the statement.

The police previously confirmed that the Audi carried a Quebec licence plate, while a woman who claimed to be the original owner of the car told CTV News that the vehicle was stolen by a man during a test drive.

YRP noted that they’ve been working with support from Service de Police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM) and Le Service de police de Laval (SPL), in identifying Muamba.