4 arrested after attempted armed robbery in Toronto’s west-end

Four men arrested during an attempted robbery in Toronto’s west end on Saturday were part of a broader investigation involving three GTA police forces.

Toronto police were called to Bloor Street West and Shaw Street around 2:15 p.m. after a 911 call about an armed robbery in progress.

“Four suspects entered the store, and one was armed with a firearm,” said Insp. Lori Kranenburg, adding police were on the scene very quickly.

“Three of the males were arrested as they exited the store, one fled on foot and was located on one of the side streets. All parties have been arrested.”

No injuries were reported.

A duffel bag filled with gold and silver bars littered the street outside a store where the attempted robbery appeared to have taken place.

Bag containing possible evidence from a robbery attempt in the area of Bloor and Shaw streets. CITYNEWS/Rob Leth

“The gold appears to have been the target of the robbery,” said Kranenburg, indicating that the suspects were under surveillance by police.

York Region police later confirmed their hold-up unit was part of the force that arrested the four.

“There’s been a series of robberies that have occurred and are being investigated jointly between Peel, Toronto and York, and this arrest was a result of that joint collaboration,” said Kranenburg.

An eyewitness who was in the area at a local pub watching the World Cup soccer match at the time of the robbery said it was a “crazy” scene.

“All of a sudden I see all these flashing lights and then I see these cops running down the street with these assault rifles and I was like ‘geez!'” Simon Gilthorpe tells Citynews. “It was crazy, it was like something you’d see out of a movie.”

“I didn’t think Saturday would be this eventful, but here we are!”