Robbery in Ontario cottage country leads to arrest of 2 Mississauga men

Two Mississauga men face charges after a store in Ontario cottage country was robbed by a pair of culprits wielding hammers on Tuesday morning.

Ontario Provincial Police said officers responded to a call of a robbery in progress just before 11 a.m. at a store on Front Street North near Neywash Street in Orillia, about 30 kilometres northeast of Barrie.

“It was reported that two individuals had attended the store with hammers, stole property and then left in a vehicle,” OPP said in a news release late Tuesday, adding no injuries were reported.

A short time after the robbery, police say they located and stopped a suspect vehicle on southbound Highway 11 in Oro-Medonte, southwest of Orillia heading toward Barrie.

Two suspects were subsequently arrested and the stolen property was recovered, according to police.

Abdel Ramadan, 22, and Makram Bani Ata, 21, both of Mississauga, are each charged with:

• Robbery with theft
• Disguise with intent
• Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose
• Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000

Bani Ata is facing an additional charge of assault with a weapon, police said.

Both were held in custody and are scheduled to appear for a bail hearing on Wednesday in Orillia court.