Video of 'million-dollar heist' in Toronto captured by security camera in vault
Three people have been arrested in connection with what police are calling a "million-dollar heist" from a business near Toronto Pearson International Airport last spring.
The robbery, most of which was caught on camera, took place at an establishment that is used for refilling privately owned ATMs near Dixon Road and Carlingview Drive.
Police say that two suspects confronted an employee outside the business just before 9 a.m. on April 1 and forced the employee at gunpoint to take them past a locked door.
Surveillance footage released on Tuesday shows one of the masked suspects holding a gun against the employee’s back as they enter the business. They then go into an interior room where another employee is seated at a desk and drag that employee out by their hand, eventually forcing them to the ground in another room.
The video then shows one of the suspects hitting that employee on the back of the head with the butt of his handgun while the other suspect stuffs cash into a large garbage bag and the second employee lies down on the floor.
Police say that the suspects eventually fled the business with more than a million dollars in cash and got into a waiting getaway vehicle, which left the scene “in tandem” with another vehicle.
“It is quite clear and evident that these individuals have a huge and high propensity for violence,” Supt. Michael Barsky said during a news conference on Tuesday morning as he announced the arrests in the case.
Some of the stolen cash was found at scene of botched home invasion
Barsky said that about $160,000 of the stolen cash was recovered after police responded to a botched home invasion in the northwest corner of the city in May.
He said that the address where that attempted home invasion took place was associated with one of the suspects in the robbery, who is not in custody.
Following that discovery months went by without any arrests in the case, which investigators had dubbed “Project Heavy Bag” due to the overstuffed garbage bag the suspects used to transport the stolen cash.
Then on Sept. 9 police were able to take one of the suspects into custody following a traffic stop in Etobicoke. He was found to be in possession of a fully loaded handgun at the time.
Subsequent to that police executed a total of four search warrants at addresses across Toronto and York Region over the following two days, seizing a large cache of contraband that included seven additional handguns, body armor, high capacity firearm magazines, cocaine and cash.
Two more individuals accused of serving as getaway drivers in the original robbery were arrested during the execution of those search warrants.
Meanwhile, police have issued an arrest warrant for a fourth suspect who they say should be considered “armed and dangerous.”
Emmanuel Rawson, 22, of Toronto, is wanted on four charges, including robbery with a firearm.
“It is alleged that he is involved in the actual robbery,” Barsky said. “His whereabouts are unknown at this point and that's why we're seeking public's assistance in locating Mr. Rawson. I strongly urge him that he seeks counsel and turn himself into any police station.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
'Secret report' or standard research? B.C. government addresses safe supply allegations
B.C.’s premier and one of his top lieutenants are pushing back against allegations by the Official Opposition that he covertly commissioned a report into the diversion of safe supply drugs onto the streets.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
She was too sick for a traditional transplant. So she received a pig kidney and a heart pump
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.