Toronto police charge 3 in online marketplace robberies

Toronto police have charged three people, including two 17-year-olds, in a string of robberies that targeted people selling luxury watches, a laptop and rare Pokemon cards through online marketplaces, and they believe there may be more victims.

Supt. Paul Krawczyk of 43 Division outlined the investigation at a news conference on Thursday, Oct. 22, CTV News Toronto reported. Police said the accused often directed sellers to meet at or near bank branches, places sellers tend to see as safe.

The investigation began in July, when a seller arranged to sell a luxury watch to a buyer met online. When the seller arrived at the meeting spot near Ellesmere Road and Bellamy Road North in Scarborough, several suspects ambushed and assaulted the victim with crowbars and fled with the watch, Krawczyk said. The victim was seriously injured.

Investigators later learned of another planned sale of a luxury watch in North York on Oct. 9. Officers watched the meeting spot, where two teenagers allegedly arrived in a stolen car carrying stolen licence plates, police said. One of them was allegedly carrying a loaded handgun with a prohibited extended magazine.

“Of particular concern, both were already subject to conditions prohibiting them from possessing firearms,” Krawczyk said. The two 17-year-olds cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. They face 30 charges between them, including robbery and firearm offences, and one is also charged with breach of probation, CBC Toronto reported.

Police executed search warrants in Toronto the next day and arrested an 18-year-old Toronto man. He is charged with robbery with an offensive weapon, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. He was later also charged in connection with the theft of a laptop in March and the April robbery of four rare Pokemon cards valued at about $80,000, police said. None of the charges has been proven in court.

Police said the 18-year-old used the online names “Omar Clarkson,” “Oscar Morkil” and “Max Smith.” Anyone who dealt with those accounts or has information is asked to contact the 43 Division major crime unit.

Krawczyk urged people selling valuables online to be careful with items that are “small, can be transported, hidden easily, and can be resold quickly,” such as smartphones, watches and jewelry, and to consider reputable dealers. “If you do arrange an in-person transaction, remember that no location is completely risk-free,” he said.

Toronto police tips usually also flow through Crime Stoppers, but that program has stopped taking tips after a data breach, so people should call police directly. More local news is on our Toronto page.

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