Video: LCBO robbery leads to helicopter chase from Clarington to Whitby; Brampton pair charged

Two Brampton men are in custody after an alleged LCBO robbery evolved into a helicopter chase across half of Durham Region.

According to Durham Regional Police, two men robbed the liquor store on King St. and Darlington Blvd. in Courtice on June 13. The pair fled the store with a “large quantity” of booze in a pickup truck. The truck sped off but struck another car on Hwy. 2 and Clarington Blvd. in Bowmanville, about 8 kilometres east of the LCBO.

After the crash, police found the truck that took off again this time westbound on Hwy. 401. Initially, police cruisers chased the truck along Hwy. 401, but they broke off pursuit when the Air 1 police chopper caught up to them.

Thanks to the crash the truck was damaged and, as a result, got off the highway in Whitby. The truck, sparking and losing pieces from the crash, ran a red light on Consumers Dr. to exit the highway, police allege.

They made their way south through town for a bit and crashed into a gated compound by South Blair St. and Water St. The compound sits down by the shores of Lake Ontario.

The pair allegedly tried to steal a tractor-trailer parked in the compound while police converged on them. With the aid of the chopper and a K-9 unit, the men were quickly taken into custody.

Ajitpal Gill, 23, faces 13 charges including robbery, obstructing police, dangerous driving, fleeing police and theft over $5,000. Gurvinder Kang, 40, was charged with 11 offences including theft over $5,000, possession of stolen property, and three counts of breaking release orders.

Anyone with information pertinent to the investigation can call D/Cst. Whelan at 905-579-1520 ext. 1613 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).