Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a violent robbery spree that targeted jewelry store owners and their relatives in the Peel region area.
The robberies happened over 14 months, between Oct. 2014 and Dec. 23, 2015.
Police held a news conference Wednesday morning to announce the arrests and the name of a third suspect wanted in connection with the robberies.
Insp. Donny Ross told reporters the robberies were carried out in a way that was “vicious and cowardly.”
The victims -- which included children and the elderly -- were pistol-whipped, bound using zip ties or duct tape and attacked with a stun gun.
The last known robbery connected to this case occurred at 10:30 p.m. in Brampton on December 23, 2015, Peel police spokesperson Const. Rachel Gibbs said. She told CTV Toronto at the time seven victims were involved.
One of the men who was robbed – a jewelry store owner -- released a statement last year explaining what happened.
He said his son came home to find both of his parents being held hostage at gunpoint.
“The whole family was tortured, beaten up with gun stocks, blindfolded and tied up,” the statement said.
The owner’s son escaped after sustaining severe head injuries and called for help.
Over the next 14 months, other jewelry store owners were also targeted and their families were also held hostage.
The Central Robbery Bureau dedicated six full-time detectives to the case, which they dubbed “Project Blue Rock”. The unit was also assisted by Toronto and Peel police as well as Jewelers Vigilance Canada and local MPP Harinder Malhi.
The investigation is open and ongoing, Ross said on Wednesday.
Two suspects identified as Brampton residents Niranjan Kalaichilvam, 32, and Shakyle Henry, 20, were arrested and charged in connection with the case.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Charges against another suspect named in the case, Rashid Ahmad, have been stayed and no criminal conviction was registered against him, according to court documents provided to CTV Toronto.
