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Five people, including two teenagers, are facing a host of charges after a brazen daytime robbery at a jewelry store inside the Oshawa Centre Sunday afternoon, police say.
The incident happened around 3:45 p.m., Durham police said in a news release, when officers were called about a robbery at Bellagio Jewellers II inside the mall at 419 King Street W.
Four people entered the store and sprayed bear spray while smashing display cases, police said, while a fifth person sat in a getaway vehicle outside.
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Those involved tried to run off before officers got there, investigators said, but two of them were arrested inside the mall. The other two got to the vehicle and were later involved in a minor crash at Stevenson Road N. and King Street W.
The remaining suspects ran off but were taken into custody with the help of police dogs, according to the news release.
Multiple videos posted on social media captured what appears to be the aftermath of the incident. In one instance a bystander holds a person in a headlock inside the mall, while in another video police officers and a dog can be seen chasing down two people in a parking lot.
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Police say minor injuries were reported with several people being treated at the scene due to the bear spray — coughing can be heard in the background of one of the social media videos.
Oshawa fire attended the mall to assist with ventilating the space.
Three adults, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old now face charges including robbery and possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.
The 15-year-old also faces a charge of administering a noxious substance, police say. Everyone involved was held for a bail hearing.