3 teens, 2 adults arrested after botched jewelry store robbery in Markham, police say

Five people — including three teenagers — are now facing charges in connection with a failed jewelry store robbery in Markham last weekend, York Regional Police say.

The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the area of Denison Street and Kennedy Road, investigators said in a news release.

Two "suspicious vehicles" were seen in the area that day, according to police, with one acting as a lookout while another dropped off four people near the store.

"There were numerous people that had been seen in a parking lot wearing ski masks, carrying sledgehammers [and] garbage bags walking around," Const. James Dickson told CBC Toronto in an interview.

However, they weren't able to get inside the building as the shop was closed for the day, Dickson said.

Helicopter surveillance video shows officers who were in the area boxing in the vehicles, and later chasing down the accused as they tried to run off.

Two men, aged 27 and 21, are now facing robbery charges — as are three teen boys, aged 14, 15 and 17.

Dickson noted the wide age gap between the accused, and said young people often end up in robberies because they get recruited by older people.

"Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, they know [teens are] not necessarily going to receive as harsh penalties as an adult would," he said. "So oftentimes these adults that are organizing it will go after youths to commit the crimes for them."

Police say that at the time of the alleged incident, one of the adults and two of the teens were out on release orders for unrelated offences.

Police also say they found a replica firearm and seized a stolen vehicle as part of the incident.

One suspect remains outstanding, and police are asking anyone with information to contact them.