Two men are in custody in relation to the Minet’s Point bank robbery from Friday, July 17 and two more are on the run.
Police believe the mid-afternoon robbery on July 17 at the Scotiabank on Minet’s Point Road in Barrie's south end is related to a string of heists in Toronto, Mississauga and Kitchener.
Two suspects entered the Barrie bank at 3:30 p.m. on July 17 and left in a white, four-door car. The plates on the car were later determined to be stolen.
The hunt intensified this past Friday when two suspects robbed a Mississauga pharmacy.
Peel Regional Police located the vehicle as well as two other suspects in another vehicle in an apartment building underground garage.
Police exchanged gunfire with the suspects after attempting to stop both vehicles. One vehicle was stopped and the two men inside were arrested.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday he was unsure if the two men apprehended in Peel were the same two who robbed the Barrie bank, but did confirm the Minet’s Point robbers are involved in the crime spree.
“The individuals responsible for the Minet’s Point robbery are responsible for a number of robberies that have taken place in southwestern Ontario,” said Leon. “This is a great example of law enforcement working together to try and locate the whereabouts of the outstanding individuals.”
According to a Peel Regional Police news release, shortly afterward, one of the suspects approached a pickup truck that was occupied by a family with children. The suspect entered the rear of the vehicle and ordered the family to drive. In fear, the family all attempted to flee from the car.
Before they were all able to escape, the suspect entered the driver's seat and fled the area with an eight-year-old child. She was located a short time later, uninjured, on a side street. The pickup truck was later recovered unoccupied.
Ridwan Dalmar, 20, of Toronto, and Zakariya Dalmar, 23, of Waterloo have been charged with multiple weapons offences while more charges are being investigated.
