Computer store latest target in daytime robberies

Shopkeepers noticing crime hikes in area

A computer store was robbed on Jan. 31. Police are still looking for the culprit.  (Olivia Blackmore/Toronto Observer)

A computer store is the latest victim in a string of daytime robberies near Pape and Danforth avenues, police report.

A man with a knife demanded cash and merchandise from  3P Computers armed around 4 p.m. on Jan. 31 and fled with the goods, Const. Jennifferjit Sidhu said.

The robbery follows several bank robberies that took place around noon hour the previous week, which concerns some local merchants.

“In recent months, I would say there’s been an increase in that type of activity in the neighbourhood,” said Austin Kerber, an employee at Home Hardware near the latest robbery.

It’s always been a very welcoming area, he said. “It’s very important that the neighbourhood keeps that image up of being safe — not somewhere someone has to feel there’s going to be a robbery happening before 6 p.m.”

After hearing about the computer store robbery from a customer, Kerber walked to the scene of the crime to see how he could help.

“I wanted to go over and check it out for two reasons —see if there was anything we should be on the lookout for, just to keep an eye on the street, [and] let the police officers know that we do have CCTV cameras at our location.… We’ll let them access that.”

Police are seeking the culprit whom they describe only as a man.

Last week on Danforth,  Scotiabank at the Danforth intersection and BMO at Ferrier were targeted in bank robberies on the same day. A man was arrested for that on Jan. 26. Two weeks earlier another man was arrested for an earlier daytime bank robbery at the same Scotiabank.

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Posted: Feb 2 2017 12:57 pm
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