Alleged members of global crime syndicate arrested after $3M jewelry heist in Montreal
Police believe that an organized crime group from South America was behind a massive jewelry heist at a shopping mall on Montreal's West Island overnight.
The suspects — eight men and two women between the ages of 19 and 38 — took off with a safe, jewelry and other items worth an estimated $3 million after breaking into the Fairview Pointe-Claire shopping centre late Thursday night, according to police.
The suspects, who are of Chilean origin, are believed to be part of the South American Theft Group (SATG), renowned for stealing money and property. The suspects, who don't speak English or French, allegedly used an incendiary device during the robbery, Noovo Info reported.
Shortly after the robbery, at around 1 a.m., Montreal police arrested them as they were attempting to flee in three vehicles, while others were arrested at their homes.
All of them appeared in court Friday to face charges of breaking and entering, theft, conspiracy, and other offences. They remain detained.
Montreal police (SPVM) have arrested eight men and two women in connection with a jewelry store robbery that occurred at the Fairview Pointe-Claire shopping centre.
Crime tourism
The so-called crime tourism trend has been going on for years.
"Operating in several countries, members of this criminal network travel to carry out organized theft activities. SATG is tracked by various police organizations and border services," police said in a news release.
Back in 2020, Montreal police said members of the criminal organization, who often go to foreign countries as tourists, stole $200,000 in a "carefully planned theft" from a currency exchange office in Montreal's Cartier neighbourhood.
Two years earlier, Halton Regional Police arrested more than a dozen Chilean nationals who allegedly broke into 400 homes in the Toronto area, stealing approximately $2.7 million in valuables over several months.
In 2015, Toronto police also arrested 12 Chileans and laid over 97 charges in relation to another operation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
The remains belonged to three adults, a teenager and a newborn baby, according to a statement from the Latebra Foundation, a historical organization based in the Polish city of Gdansk, published Thursday.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.