Toronto Police Release CCTV Footage of Two Burka-Clad Men Robbing Jewellery Store [Video]

Burqas are displayed in front of a shop in Herat November 3, 2009. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

Two men in Canada, who wore burkas and robbed a jewellery store in Toronto, are "very difficult" to be identified. Staff Inspector Mike Earl spoke about the hurdles of the identification, while police released the CCTV footage of the robbery on Wednesday, Nov 19.

Mona-Clara Jewellers in the York Mills Rd. and Leslie St. area was robbed at 11 am on Oct 14. The robbers were covered from head to toe when they took jewellery worth $500,000 from the store. It took them less than five minutes to perform the entire act. One burka-clad man took out a handgun, while the other locked the main door with the help of a female employee, The Star reported. They eventually left the store through the back door. According to police, there could be a getaway car waiting for them.

Earl said that there was not much to help the investigation as the robbers were completely covered. However, what could give an outside chance of identifying the offenders is the amount of jewellery they took on that day. "The biggest clue is going to be the amount of jewelry they took that day, whether they're bragging to family members and friends, or if somebody saw something that jogs their memory," Earl said. One of the suspects is believed to be 6' 3'' tall, while the other who seemed to be black, was 5' 11". One of them forced an employee to open the display case, while both of them took a number of jewels off it and put those in their bags. The CCTV footage released by police also shows one of the robbers clearing out the cabinets, The Globe and Mail reported.

Earl said that it was believed that the large number of jewellery had been sold to someone after the robbery. He indicated that finding out the buyer might take the investigation to the right direction. He also said that this was the first time some people, disguised in burkas, robbed a store in Toronto. Police have also asked for public help in identifying the offenders. Anyone in Canada with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).