Hammer-wielding robbers back in Durham; this time at a Whitby electronics store

Three hammer-wielding robbers hit an electronics store in the Whitby Mall Saturday, just hours before three teenagers were arrested after robbing a mall jewelry story in Oshawa, also with hammers.

Durham Police say three suspects smashed a display case and stole multiple cell phones from Hi Tech Communications inside the Whitby Mall at approximately 5:40 p.m. Saturday.

Three young Black men, each 18-25 and wearing ski masks and dressed all in black. entered the store and used hammers to smash a display case to steal the cell phones, police said. The shopkeeper attempted to stop the suspects but was unsuccessful and the suspects fled the mall in a red 4-door sedan.

The victim did not sustain any physical injuries.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Robbery Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5355. Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca. Tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.

A few hours after the Whitby robbery three teenagers were arrested after a jewelry store in the Oshawa Centre was hit, with a fourth suspect still at large.

Durham Police report four youths went to Paris Jewellers just before the mall’s 9 p.m. closing, producing hammers and smashing the store’s display cases.

The group, who were reportedly all out on bail from previous offences, grabbed a bunch of jewelry and fled, with three of the four later caught by police.

The same store was robbed the month before by teenagers using the same methods.