Man in suit duped employees into opening door before Pacific Mall jewelry heist

A sharp-dressed man who may have appeared to be a potential customer turned out to be part of a team of robbers that targeted a jewelry store at Pacific Mall in Markham on Thursday, York Regional Police revealed in an update Friday.

Officers attended the mall in the Steeles Avenue and Kennedy Road area at around 3:10 p.m. on Thursday after receiving numerous calls about an armed heist.

In an update Friday, police said a suspect dressed in a suit was the first to gain access to the store, before his accomplices stormed in.

“Attending officers learned that a male suspect in a suit rang the store’s doorbell and waited for an employee to unlock the door, then assaulted the employee and entered with three other suspects,” police said.

Once inside, the suspects smashed display cases and snagged high-end watches.

At one point a gun was fired, but luckily no one was hit.

After pilfering a quantity of valuables, the crooks fled the store into a waiting vehicle.

Police say the first suspect who rang the door was a brown-skinned male, about 20 to 30 years old, around five foot six with a slim build, black hair and brown eyes.

He was wearing a grey two-piece suit with a blue dress shirt and black shoes.

The other three suspects are described only as males wearing dark clothing with hoods and masks.

Police offered this advice before stores with valuables in stock let someone in. “Speak with customers before letting them in. If you don’t feel comfortable, trust your instincts.”