Montreal police arrest about 15 in jewellery theft crackdown; teens as young as 13 recruited

MONTREAL — Montreal police carried out a large operation targeting networks suspected of involvement in a series of robberies at jewellery stores. About 15 people were arrested, including minors, amid growing concern over the use of teenagers in organized crime.

The operation took place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, following investigations into a wave of thefts targeting gold shops in Montreal and surrounding areas. The thieves broke into stores, smashed display cases and took jewellery within seconds.

Police information indicates that some of the teenagers recruited to carry out these crimes are no more than 13 years old.

Suspects arrested in major operation

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) announced the arrest of about 15 people during an operation targeting suspects in the organization and carrying out of repeated thefts from jewellery stores.

The operation included raids and searches of locations linked to the investigation, among them a building in downtown Montreal near the intersection of Union and Cathcart streets.

According to published information, the operation targeted those who carried out the thefts, as well as people suspected of organizing them or helping to dispose of the stolen jewellery.

Media reports said the number of teenagers arrested by police in investigations linked to these crimes has reached about 40 in recent months.

Authorities have not released details of the individual charges against all of those arrested in the latest operation.

55 jewellery thefts since the start of the year

SPVM data show 55 robberies at jewellery stores between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, 2026.

About 34 of these cases involved a method known as "smash and grab," in which display cases are smashed and items are quickly stolen.

The figure represents a worrying increase compared with previous years: 26 thefts were recorded in 2025 and 35 in 2024.

There were 21 thefts in 2023, compared with 15 in 2022.

The data reflect a sharp rise in the targeting of gold and jewellery stores, which has led police to step up their investigations and form a specialized team to address the problem.

Gangs using children to carry out thefts

Investigations have revealed a troubling method used by groups suspected of organizing these operations: recruiting teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17.

The head of the investigative team, Iyad Hanna, said recruitment sometimes takes place through social media, where young people are offered money to take part in the thefts.

According to reports, the promised payments can reach thousands of dollars, but some teenagers do not receive the agreed amount after carrying out the job.

Police believe the organizers exploit the participants' young age and need for money, while they run the operations and dispose of the stolen gold themselves.

Investigations indicate that groups operate independently, and it has not been confirmed that all those involved are linked to a single criminal organization.

$300,000 in jewellery stolen in seconds

Among the most prominent incidents to draw attention to the problem was a robbery at the Royale d'Or store at Place Versailles in Montreal on Sept. 8.

Surveillance footage showed a group of masked people entering the store and smashing display cases before fleeing with gold jewellery worth about $300,000.

The robbery lasted only about 30 seconds, reflecting the speed on which the groups involved rely.

The store was later the target of another incident in which jewellery worth about $30,000 was stolen.

Police arrested two teenagers, aged 14 and 15, in connection with one of these incidents.

Security concerns among gold shop owners

Jewellery store owners in Montreal have expressed growing concern, particularly as some thefts have taken place during business hours and in front of customers.

Merchants fear that employees and customers could be injured by the tools used to smash display cases, and that robberies could turn into violent confrontations.

Police, for their part, are continuing to investigate to identify those responsible for recruiting minors and to track down those who buy or resell the stolen gold.

The case highlights two overlapping challenges: protecting stores from organized theft, and preventing the exploitation of children and teenagers in criminal activity that could affect their futures.