One person arrested for jewelry store robbery at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo

Waterloo Regional Police say they've arrested one person as they continue to investigate an armed robbery at a jewelry store inside Conestoga Mall.

Police received multiple calls about the incident around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday.

“What we can say is that multiple suspects entered the jewelry store,” said Const. Chris Iden. “It’s believed that a weapon… a hammer and, we believe, bear spray were used in the process.”

There were no injuries reported.

Image taken from viewer video of a jewelry store robbery at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo.

Video, shared with CTV News, appeared to show several people taking merchandise from Raffi Jewellers.

“We’re unaware at this time of what merchandise may have been taken, but the suspects did flee before police arrival,” Iden said.

A Waterloo Regional Police car outside Conestoga Mall in Waterloo, Ont. on Dec. 18, 2024. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

Patrick Schlitt was in the mall at the time of the robbery.

“You could hear screaming, then you could hear banging,” he told CTV News. “Of course, you’re in a rush. But it’s a little unnerving at the time.”

Schlitt said, initially, he wasn’t sure what was happening but then heard an announcement asking shoppers to leave the mall immediately.

“You don’t know whether to run or you just proceed. Everybody was orderly, but they were moving, so yeah, we were getting out of there.”

Closed sign at Conestoga Mall in Waterloo on Dec. 18, 2024. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

The doors were locked and signs were put up at the entrances saying the mall was closed until further notice, though the Zehrs remained open.