Man arrested in over 5 armed robberies spanning Toronto, Peel

Toronto police have made an arrest and continue to search for a second suspect connected to a string of violent armed robberies carried out in the city and in Peel Region dating back to March.

Authorities first responded to a hold-up call at a jewellery store in the Danforth Road and Birchmount Road area in Scarborough. It’s alleged two masked men broke into the store armed with a shotgun and a hatchet.

After stealing jewellery, the men were involved in an altercation with one of the employees. They suffered minor injuries as a result. The two suspects then fled the store.

Months later, on September 5, police were informed of a robbery in the Lakeshore Boulevard West and Strachan Avenue area, near the Exhibition. Authorities say a man armed with a revolver attended a ticket booth where two employees counted the money at the end of a work day.

The suspect demanded cash and eventually fled. The perpetrator was located and arrested, and through a police investigation, it was determined he was connected to six other retail robberies, including the initial incident in March.

The man was identified as 25-year-old Carlton Matsinde of Toronto. He faces several charges, including robbery and robbery with a firearm. The accused appeared in court on September 6.

Matsinde committed several robberies, one suspect still wanted

Police say the 25-year-old was involved in several robberies spanning the GTA.

On July 5, officers responded to a robbery in the Danforth Avenue and Pape Avenue area in the city’s east end. It’s alleged that a man entered a nail salon armed with a taser gun and demanded cash.

He threatened employees with the taser and fled with stolen money.

A robbery occurred just over a month later in the Fort York Boulevard and Dan Leckie Way area near the Rogers Centre.

A masked man entered a coffee shop, jumped over the counter and pulled out a taser while demanding cash. He then fled the shop.

Toronto police. (CityNews Toronto/ Rob Leth)

On August 21, a man armed with a taser allegedly robbed a gas station in the Rexdale Boulevard and Islington Avenue area. He fled with an amount of cash and merchandise.

Six days later, police responded to a robbery in the Steeles Avenue East and Kennedy Road South area in Brampton. A similar incident occurred when a man entered a gas station armed with a handgun and stole cash.

Days later, the same man allegedly robbed a convenience store in the Lake Shore Boulevard West and Thirteenth Street area.

On September 19, police laid additional charges against the 25-year-old Matsinde, including five more counts of robbery with an offensive weapon and five counts of disguise with intent.

Police say one suspect remains outstanding in the March 2022 jewellery store robbery.