Heist of gold and silver coins in Toronto leads to 6 arrests

Six people face charges after multiple culprits walked into a store in Toronto’s east end, restrained the shopkeeper and then fled with a stash of gold and silver coins, police say.

The robbery targeted a store near Queen Street East and Empire Avenue back on March 23, Toronto Police said in a news release over the weekend.

Shortly after 11 a.m., according to investigators, the victim allowed a number of people into the shop, believing they were buyers.

Moments later, four men “physically restrained the victim” and the culprits gathered up a quantity of gold and silver coins before fleeing the area in a getaway car, police said.

On May 14, Toronto holdup squad detectives, with support from major crime unit officers and the Canada Border Services Agency, seized a replica gun and other evidence during the execution of a search warrant.

Six people were arrested.

Charged with a number of alleged offences that include robbery, forcible confinement and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence are Florian Caldarar, 47, Nistar Lazar, 35, and Mon Lucian Banghios, 34, all of Pickering, and Anton Clopotar, 39, of Mississauga.

Horia Nistor Haret, 23, of Pickering, faces several charges including robbery and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence while Tuesan Nistor Solomon, 49, also of Pickering, is charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and other alleged offences.

All accused have made initial court appearances in Toronto, police said.

The investigation continues. Anyone with relevant information is asked to call police at 416-808-7350 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.

(Cover photo: Toronto Police)