Man arrested after long string of armed robberies in Brampton and Toronto
Published September 20, 2022 at 9:27 pm
Toronto police have arrested a man in connection to seven armed robberies across the city and into Brampton stretching back to the spring.
In the first such incident, on March 14, two men approached a jewelry store near Danforth Ave and Birchmount Rd while concealing their identities with masks.
The pair tried to enter the store, but an employee locked the door before they were able to. The men proceeded to break open the door and get in.
One was armed with a hatchet, the other wielded a shotgun. The pair began to smash open display cases. The pair tried to leave through the front door, but found it locked. They got attacked an employee, inflicting minor wounds. The two were able to flee through the back door.
Later investigation linked the same suspect to six other robberies. The next occurred a few months later, on July 5.
A man entered a nail salon that day on Danforth Ave and Pape Ave. He wore a mask and gloves. He approached the cash register as an employee was counting the till and pushed them out of the way.
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The man grabbed much of the cash then whipped out a taser and turned it on. He then left the store and fled the scene.
Weeks later, on August 12, the man walked into a coffee shop on Fort York Blvd and Dan Leckie Way. He jumped the counter and brandished a taser at employees. He demanded cash, which he got, and then took off.
A man next reappeared at a gas station on Rexdale Blvd and Islington Ave. Again, wearing a mask and gloves, and again brandishing a taser, the man demanded cash. He took an unspecified amount of money and fled.
Next, he appeared at another gas station at Steeles Ave and Kennedy Rd in Brampton wearing the mask and gloves. This time he produced a handgun while demanding money. Once more the man took some cash and fled the scene.
Then, on September 2, a man walked into a convenience store on Lake Shore Blvd and Thirteenth St wearing a mask and gloves. He pulled a handgun and demanded cash, which he took and fled from the scene.
Finally, on September 5, a man approached a ticket booth at Lake Shore Blvd and Strachan Ave where two employees were counting cash.
He pulled a revolver and forced both employees into the booth. He stole some more cash and fled the scene.
Shortly after this robbery, police tracked a suspect down and arrested him. When he was taken into custody police say they found a replica firearm, a taser and stolen cash.
Soon after investigators linked the man to the jewelry store robbery.
At the time of the arrest Carlton Matsinde, 25, of Toronto, was charged with;
- Robbery with a Firearm
- Robbery
- Use Imitation Firearm During Commission of Indictable Offence
- two counts of Disguise with Intent
- Unauthorized Possession of Firearm
- Possession of Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
- Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
- Possession of Firearm with Ammunition
- Possession of Firearm Obtained by Crime
- Two counts of Weapons Dangerous
- Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
- two counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime
Matsinde appeared in court on September 6. However, the investigation continued, linking Matsinde to the other robberies listed.
On September 19, Toronto Police additionally charged Matsinde with;
- five counts of Robbery with Offensive Weapon
- five counts of Disguise with Intent
- five counts of Weapons Dangerous
- two counts of Use Imitation Firearm During Commission of Indictable Offence
- three counts of Possession of Prohibited Device
He next appeared in a Toronto courtroom on September 20. One more suspect of the jewelry store robbery remains at large. He is described as a 6’ tall Black man.
Anyone with information about pertinent to the investigation can call Toronto Police at 416-808-7350, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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