Three teens arrested following armed robbery at Kitchener business
Three teens have been arrested following an armed robbery in Kitchener, the latest in a string of crimes involving youths in Waterloo Region.
At around 4 p.m. on Sunday, three suspects entered a business near Ottawa Street South and Fischer Hallman Road and stole an unspecified amount of merchandise.
Waterloo Regional Police said a gun was also fired, but no one was hurt during the robbery.
“[We] quickly identified the suspect’s vehicle and coordinated with the Ontario Provincial Police,” they said in a media release. “The vehicle was located a short time [later] in Peel Region.”
Police said two 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old, all from the Greater Toronto Area, were arrested.
Other incidents involving teens
Sunday’s robbery was just the latest involving young teens.
There have been at least three incidents reported in the last month.
On Aug. 18, a 17-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl were charged in a Cambridge shooting.
On Sept. 4, a 13-year-old boy was charged with six residential break-ins in Cambridge.
On Sept. 6, witnesses restrained three teens as they were fleeing a jewelry store at Highland Hills Mall in Kitchener. Police said they smashed display cases with hammers and stole merchandise. The 15-year-old, 16-year-old and 18-year-old, all from Brampton, face multiple robbery and weapons charges. Police were still looking for a fourth person who left the scene in a black 2024 Jeep Wrangler.
Analyst shares insight
Chris Lewis, a former OPP commissioner and public safety analyst for CTV News, shared his thoughts on the teen trend.
“Some specific crimes that have occurred in KW and in other parts of the province are really concerning, in that they involve guns with 14-year-olds,” he said.
During the most recent incident in Kitchener, the suspects got away in a vehicle which they were not permitted to drive.
Lewis said the teens may have had help from someone older.
“I suspect they are maybe helping them get from place to place, maybe gang activity, maybe just small criminal groups that are doing bad things too.”
If gang-related, Lewis doesn’t put the blame on lesser penalties for youths.
“I don’t think the Criminal Justice Act plays a huge part in it,” he said. “I mean, you’re not going to lock up a 13, 14-year-old for any length of time, regardless of the Criminal Justice Act. At the same time, adults don’t seem to be concerned about their involvement in gang activity and gun crime. They’re not afraid of the Criminal Code.”
There is some research, Lewis said, that suggests the pandemic could play a factor in these incidents.
“Years that [they] were isolated, not interacting with other kids, seeing no one maybe but [their] parents, and ultimately living online.”
Lewis said it’s easy for teens to fall in with the wrong crowd and be influenced to do things they wouldn’t otherwise do.
Crime prevention programs, he added, also aren’t likely to stop young people from committing crimes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They're never going to see me cry': Michael Kovrig shares experience of more than 1,000 days in Chinese detainment
It's been exactly three years since Canadian Michael Kovrig returned to Canada after spending 1,019 days in a Chinese prison. Now, he's publicly speaking out about his arrest and detainment for the first time.
Lebanon sees deadliest day of conflict since 2006 as Israeli strikes kill 492
Israeli strikes on Lebanon Monday killed more than 490 people, including more than 90 women and children, Lebanese authorities said, in the deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Police investigating sudden death of 2-year-old boy in Cambridge, Ont.
Police say a toddler in Cambridge, Ont., who was reported missing early Monday morning, has since died.
Number of CRA employees fired for inappropriately claiming CERB approaches 300
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has provided new data on the number of employees who were found to have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Is COVID XEC worse than other variants? Experts share what's known about the virus in Canada
While many Canadians no longer stress as much about COVID-19 as they did during its peak, health experts say a new variant has been spreading in some parts of the world and is now present in Canada.
House Speaker asks MPs to behave better in question period after incident
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus gave MPs a stern warning on Monday about improving their behaviour as they prepare for a fractious debate about whether the Liberals should continue to govern.
Thousands of bones and hundreds of weapons reveal grisly insights into a 3,250-year-old battle
A new analysis of dozens of arrowheads is helping researchers piece together a clearer portrait of the warriors who clashed on Europe’s oldest known battlefield 3,250 years ago.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland reveals dementia diagnosis, will soon play final Canadian show
Beverly Glenn-Copeland says he's been diagnosed with dementia and will play his final concert tour dates over the next two weeks.
Calgary men guilty in multimillion-dollar fraud case involving B.C. RV resort
On Sept. 20, Justice R.E. Nation of the Alberta Court of King's Bench found Craig McMorran guilty of fraud, money laundering and stealing a cottage from its rightful owners.