NEWS

Six boys arrested after series of Yonge-Eglinton robberies

Police have arrested six teenage boys after a series of robberies in and around the Yonge Eglinton Centre in January and February.

The first incident took took place near the Orchard View Boulevard entrance inside the shopping centre on Jan. 17. Police say a 14-year-old boy was physically attacked in the shopping centre by a youth with a knife and had his jacket taken, after a group of six boys had demanded his personal property.

On Feb. 5, a 14-year-old boy was grabbed from behind by two boys and pulled around a corner in the shopping centre, police say. Cash was allegedly taken before a security guard interrupted the attack and the two boys fled.

On Feb. 8, a 14-year-old boy selling tickets to a school event was followed through the mall into a store by six boys, police say. The boy was allegedly threatened and his backpack, cash and cellphone stolen.

On Feb. 27, just before midnight, three boys and a girl were attacked at the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue intersection after being followed through the shopping centre by a group of boys, police say. However, the attack was interrupted by “two unknown Good Samaritans who were in the area,” according to the police press release, and only a baseball cap was taken.

A boy, 14, was arrested on Feb. 1 and charged with robbery with an offensive weapon.

A boy, 14, was arrested on Feb. 7 and charged with robbery.

Three boys, 15, and two boys, 16, were arrested on between Feb. 27 and March 11 and charged with robbery and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

A boy, 17, was arrested on March 1 and charged with robbery with violence and possession of a schedule II substance.

All were to appear in court in March. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, none of them can be named as they are under 18.