NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE
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At approximately 4:05 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2019, uniform officers from the 1 District St. Catharines office of the Niagara Regional Police responded to an alarm at a jewellery store located in the area of Ontario Street and Lakeport Road in St. Catharines.
When the officers arrived on scene they observed that a white Ford 350 pickup truck had struck the front of the store. The truck was fully engulfed which caused minor fire damaged to the exterior of the premise and prevented officers from entering.
Officers also observed that there was a significant fire in the store. The St. Catharines Fire Service attended the scene and extinguished the fire. Officers were initially delayed in entering the premise until such time the structure was deemed safe.
The following investigation determined that unknown suspects had used the stolen Ford pickup truck to smash their way into the jewelry store. Once in the store suspects proceeded to smash multiple display cases stealing an assortment of jewellery. The suspects fled the scene on foot prior to the police arrival.
The value of the stolen property has not been determined. Damage to the business is estimated to be in excess of $75, 000.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The pickup truck was totaled by the impact and fire damage.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the detective at 905-688-4111 extension #9476.
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