3 suspects wanted after alleged armed robbery at Vaughan commercial business

York Regional Police (YRP) police are searching for three people after an alleged armed robbery in Vaughan, the latest in a series of violent commercial robberies happening around the Greater Toronto Area.

YRP say two people entered a business in the area of Fishermens Way and Bass Pro Mills Drive just before 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.

The pair claimed they were conducting an armed robbery before allegedly forcing employees to open a safe, according to police.

Police said the suspects then tied up the employees and fled the store with a number of stolen cellphones.

No gun was ever physically seen.

Police say both suspects are male.

One is described as white, in his 20s, and about five-foot-ten. He was wearing a grey track suit, black shoes and a black balaclava at the time of the robbery.

Police describe the second as black, six feet tall, and also in his 20s. He was wearing a beige hoodie, black pants, grey shoes, and a black mask.

A third person was waiting in a white sedan and drove away with the two men.

No description of the third suspect was given by police.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact YRP or Crime Stoppers.

Last week, YRP launched a “Traumatic Incident Response Protocol” in the wake of recent smash-and-grab robberies in the region.

“We have officers that are at the malls working with our partners again to reach out to the community, to talk to them about all the crime prevention techniques that are available, as well to allow the community to talk about their concerns, to see what we can do to try and improve this,” Const. James Dickson told CP24 on Tuesday.

Dickson said there has been a rise in jewelry store robberies in York Region this year, with police responding to at least 13 incidents.