Toronto police say they’ve grown increasingly concerned after a spike in robberies at marijuana dispensaries have not been reported by owners or employees.
According to police, since June 2016, there were 13 robberies of illegal marijuana storefronts where suspects used a variety of weapons, including pepper spray, knives and firearms.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference Monday, Supt. Bryce Evans said six of those robberies were not reported by employees or owners but rather by customers or witnesses who were in the area at the time.
He said four Toronto-area pot shops have been violently robbed since Jan 4. Of those, two were reported to police by witnesses and not by owners or employees.
In one particular incident at Canna Clinic on Ossington Avenue, Evans said four to five suspects stormed the storefront where the ordered customers to the ground as they stole cash and drugs. Two employees were reportedly stabbed during the incident.
Evans said the only reason police were made aware of the incident was after a concerned customer posted about it online.
“The customer went in the next day and inquired if they had reported to police. The employees denied the robbery occurred and the customer took to social media,” he said.
While investigating the incident, Evans said the employees refused to answer their questions and declined to give police access to their security camera footage.
“I find it disturbing that the owners and operators of these storefronts refuse to cooperate, turn over evidence and instruct their employees to not speak to police after they’ve become victimized,” he said.
Evans said he believes many of the incidents have gone unreported out of fear police will persecute the owners or operators in conjunction with investigating the robberies.
Though police fully intend to investigate the robberies of all dispensaries, Evans said they will continue to “seize any illegal narcotics on the premises during the investigation.”
“I realize there is no legal obligation to report a crime but where is your moral sense of an obligation?” Evans asked. “When will you step up to the plate for your employees and customers, who, as you state, are already suffering from health issues, and prevent them from being victimized?”
Pot shops ‘safety issue’ since Project Claudia
Back in May 2016, Toronto police launched a crackdown on marijuana dispensaries through a series of raids dubbed ‘Project Claudia.’
Since June, police have executed 33 search warrants at different storefronts.
“That’s approximately one a week,” Staff Insp. Steve Watts said at the news conference Monday.
There are approximately 44 dispensaries currently operating in the GTA.
“I think it’s fair to say, as I stand here today, that this is absolutely a public safety issue now,” he said. “It’s evolved since May until now.”
Evans said Toronto police will continue to execute search warrants on marijuana dispensaries until they have the legislative changes in place for them to act differently.
“The Prime Minister has given his opinion. He said on Dec. 3 that he wants the police to enforce the laws. The laws have not changed,” he said.
“So to sit there and say, ‘Why would they phone?’ It’s very simple. There are customers ranging from a variety of ages and, if you believe them, they’re already suffering from medical issues. They’re being beaten, they’re being stabbed, they’re being forced to the ground and having guns shoved in their faces. That’s the problem here.”
