York Regional Police now say the suspects involved in a brazen jewellery heist at Markville Mall left a suspicious package to try and distract police from the robbery.
The robbery happened around 6:25 p.m. Sunday at the Lukfook Jewellry store in the shopping centre, where six people dressed in construction vests and armed with hammers and firearms rushed in.
They smashed the glass and stoke an unknown amount of jewellery, with some of the crime caught by bystanders on video.
This just happened in #markvillemall #smashandgrab stay safe people. #markham #shopping #robbery pic.twitter.com/ZwAr7s6SYO
— Steve Apostolopoulos (@SteveApost) December 31, 2018
However, Cst. Laura Nicolle now says a suspicious package was left at the Markham GO Train station on Main Street Markham North just before the robbery.
"The call was made by a person who didn't provide their information and the call was made by a cell phone that was sort of an untraceable type of phone, so certainly there's some concerns there," she said.
Officers quickly responded to the scene and there was no risk to public safety.
Meanwhile, witnesses reported hearing shots fired in the mall but Nicolle said that has not been confirmed.
"I know there's some video that's out there circulating, but I just want to advise any individuals who have taken any video of this, I'd ask them to contact our own investigators directly and provide that video," she said "We may not be able to catch all of it just in terms of what people are posting."
Police say a bystander also helped in the arrest by slowing the suspect down.
The bystander, who did not want to be identified, told NEWSTALK 1010 sister station CP24, "When I reached for him, I grabbed the vest. He was able to pull out of it. I had the vest in my hand. I threw it down and then reached for him again, grabbed him by the sweater and was able to tackle him down."
During the arrest, an officer was injured in a scuffle with the suspect, but was still able to take him into custody.
Tristan Currie, 27, of Toronto is charged with robbery, disguise with intent and assault with intent to resist arrest.
Police are asking the public to help them locate the other five suspects.
Representatives from the store declined to comment.
An earlier version of this story referred to the package as a bomb threat, but police consider it just a suspicious package.
Clear video clip of police arresting suspect of #LukFookJewellery #MarkvilleMall robbery today in #Markham #Toronto.
— Leo Shiu (@realtorleoshiu) December 31, 2018
Markville Mall #???????,?????????????! ?????????!#lukfook pic.twitter.com/7P3QtNjXIM