Yorkdale mall store, 3 west-end Toronto pharmacies targeted in daylight robberies

Toronto police say a Yorkdale mall store and three pharmacies in the city’s west end have been targeted in two separate daylight robberies.

Officers responded to the first of three calls about robberies at pharmacies at 3:10 p.m. It happened at the West Mall Bloor Plaza.

Police said four teen boys robbed the store using handguns before fleeing the scene in a dark-coloured pickup truck. A woman in her 70s was reportedly assaulted in the incident.

Officers then responded to a second call at 3:50 p.m. about a robbery at a pharmacy in the Rexdale Commerical Centre Plaza.

Police said four teen boys entered the store wearing ski masks and holding guns. The suspects allegedly assaulted a store employee and robbed the store of drugs and money before fleeing the scene in a dark-coloured pickup truck.

A third pharmacy in Elmhurst Plaza reported a robbery to police just after 4 p.m.

Police said four young boys again entered the pharmacy wearing masks and holding guns. The suspects allegedly assaulted an employee and stole drugs and money before fleeing the scene.

A suspect has been arrested and three others are outstanding.

A short time later, police said officers were called a store at Yorkdale mall. It was reported four teen boys entered, wearing their hoods up.

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Police said the suspects fled through a parking lot. The mall was briefly put into a hold-and-secure.

A short distance away, several officers could be seen on McAdam Avenue.

Officers later said multiple suspects were tracked through the service’s canine unit. Five suspects in total were arrested.