Three suspects arrested following a robbery at the Cashmax location in Kitchener on Thursday have also been charged in connection with holdups at Raffi Jewellers and Ben Moss Jewellers.
They have also been charged in connection with a robbery at the same Cashmax Payday Loans location on Dec. 14.
Leon George Cunningham, 20, of Kitchener, Dhirmal Bharat Gohil, 18, of Cambridge, and Punchok Wangail, 19, of Waterloo, face a series of robbery-related charges.
The types of offences include; robbery, mischief, disguise with intent to commit a crime and possession of a dangerous weapon.
The Raffi Jewellers at Conestoga Mall was robbed on Jan. 5. Four suspects smashed display cases and fled with an unknown amount of jewelry. Pepper spray used also forced an evacuation of the mall.
Waterloo Regional Police Detective Staff Sgt. Frank Sinko says video from that incident was key, "It was the benefit of the video evidence from Conestoga Mall that we were able to get a very clear picture of the suspect van used at that time."
The van involved was later found in an underground garage, and it contained the fingerprints of one of the three men involved in Thursday's robbery. In total two vehicles with stolen plates have been seized, according to police.
On Dec. 15, Ben Moss Jewellers at Fairview Park Mall was robbed by three suspects wearing masks and carrying a machete and sledgehammer.
A robbery at Peoples Jewellers in the same mall on Dec. 1 has not been linked to the suspects. One big difference is that the suspects in that case were carrying guns.
Waterloo Regional Police Insp. Greg Lamport says "we do not have evidence to link these three male suspects to it at this time."
The police are crediting tips from the public in assisting with the arrest. Lamport says, "We received quite a bit of assistance form the community through media services in identifying two separate vehicles used in the robberies."
Suspects apprehended on Thursday
Around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, three men wearing disguises entered the Cashmax at 1335 Weber Street East in Kitchener, locking the door behind them, according to police.
The clerk, who was alone on duty, immediately activated an alarm and fled through the back door. The suspects attempted unsuccessfully to access the money drawer before fleeing.
The suspects were later located standing near a vehicle on Huber Street, and they attempted to flee on foot. One was arrest immediately and the other two were located quickly with the assistance of the K-9 unit.
Police say a knife and duct tape were found in the possession of one suspect, while a canister of bear spray that had been discarded was also recovered.
Lamport says one man was Tasered while being apprehended, and he and a second suspect also suffered bites from the police dog. No medical assistance was required.
An 18-, 19- and 20-year-old man, all residents of Waterloo Region appeared in court on Friday in relation to robbery-related charges and were remanded in custody until a court appearance next week.
Lamport says "We hope it brings some feeling of comfort to our community that we have made these arrests and bring to conclusion these robberies."
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact police at 519-653-7700 Ext. 4499 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
