MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Three jewelry store workers wielded swords to fight off four would-be thieves during an attempted robbery in Mississauga, Ont., police said.
Const. Danny Marttini said the incident took place around 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday at Ashok Jewellers when four masked suspects got out of a truck and one person began smashing the store's windows.
Surveillance video released by police in an effort to identify the suspects shows one man jumping inside the store before three employees rush him with swords drawn.
Another suspect pulls the man back outside the store through the broken window as the employees flail away with swords — one of the employees fell while swinging his sword.
"This could have gone wrong in so many ways," Marttini said.
One of the suspects then pointed a gun inside the store. The suspects then fled, got in the truck then sped away through a red light, narrowly missing a collision with two transport trucks.
"I don't know how they didn't kill themselves or anyone else for that matter," Marttini said of the suspects, who left empty handed.
Police believe three of the suspects are men and aren't sure about the fourth. The getaway car is a dark-coloured Dodge Durango, she said.
Despite the successful efforts by the employees, Marttini said it's best to leave the crime-fighting to police.
"We don't condone violence to fight violence," she said. "It's better to save yourself than your property. Your life is more important than jewelry."
Here’s the robbery attempt from the surveillance camera outside the store.
— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) November 22, 2018
You can see four people trying to break in through the window.
Store owner tells me everyone is okay. @globalnewsto pic.twitter.com/8YNVZLkk7v
Stunning video.
— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) November 22, 2018
Owners of Ashok Jewellers in Mississauga sent me this surveillance footage — three people using swords to fend off a daylight robbery attempt on Wednesday. @globalnewsto pic.twitter.com/UjDb1kn2w7
Peel Regional Police say they’re uncertain of the weapons the robbers had at the time, but believe at least one had a gun.
— Kamil Karamali (@KamilKaramali) November 22, 2018
Don’t recommend the public to do what these men did and fight back. Could’ve ended up being much worse. @globalnewsto pic.twitter.com/nqBOKcnnL7
