Barrie police have arrested four of six suspects following a theft-in-progress call at a retail store inside Georgian Mall last night.
On Thursday, Feb. 20 at 8:53 p.m., just minutes before the mall was set to close, city police say officers responded to a call regarding an incident at a Bayfield Street business in the north end.
From the initial information police received, officers learned that six males, all of whom where wearing face masks to conceal their identity, entered the store and stole a large quantity of clothing.
Police said the suspects then fled and made their way to a waiting vehicle.
Responding officers located the suspect vehicle in a nearby parking lot, at which time all of the occupants immediately tried to run away, according to police.
Assisted by tactical support and canine units, police say two of the suspects were immediately located and taken into custody as they tried to elude arrest in a nearby car dealership.
Police said an ongoing search of the area west of Bayfield and Hanmer streets resulted in the arrest of two additional suspects.
In total, three men and one male youth, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), were transported to police headquarters on Fairview Road where detectives continued their investigation.
Police said the arrested suspects, who all reside within the Greater Toronto Area, have all been charged with theft under $5,000, as well as wearing a disguise with intent.
They are being held in custody for a bail hearing, which is scheduled to take place by video later today at the Barrie courthouse.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and officers are using “additional investigative techniques and resources” to identify the two outstanding suspects.
City police also acknowledged the assistance they received from the public last night.
“The detailed information that was provided to our communications unit, and subsequently shared with the responding officers, significantly contributed to the positive outcome of this call for service,” police stated in a release.
