Months after a jewelry store in Hamilton was targeted by robbers who held the owner at gunpoint and assaulted him with a hammer, the business has implemented enhanced security measures. Jean-Pierre Verbunt, the owner of Ancaster Jewellers, has introduced a new security system that releases a thick fog within seconds if anyone tries to break in.
“We need to demonstrate to criminals that we are more resilient than they anticipate,” Verbunt stated. “There will be additional challenges beyond simply walking in and taking things.”
In a previous incident last December, a pickup truck crashed through the store’s front window, allowing several individuals to enter, one of whom was armed with a gun. Verbunt activated the alarms and contacted the authorities immediately. He managed to disarm the armed individual but was struck in the face with a hammer. His son, who works at the store, also intervened and was hit in the back with a sledgehammer.
The perpetrators fled upon the arrival of the police. Both Verbunt and his son have largely recovered from their injuries, and the store reopened two weeks after the incident. However, Verbunt remains concerned about their safety.
Derek Hopkins, the CEO of Connect and Protect in nearby Burlington, Ontario, has obtained approval to sell smoke screen security systems in Canada. These systems, commonly used in the UK and Europe, offer an active deterrent against intrusions and violent crimes, unlike traditional security systems that mainly provide alerts.
When triggered, the smoke screen system fills the area with a water-based fog that can last up to 45 minutes, without causing harm to eyes or lungs or leaving any residue. Hopkins emphasized that many jewelry and retail businesses are reconsidering their security strategies, with the smoke screen system providing peace of mind. The starting price for a smoke screen unit is $1,500, excluding installation costs.
In recent times, Ontario has witnessed numerous smash-and-grab robberies, including repeated incidents at an Ottawa jewelry store and arrests related to similar crimes in Mississauga and Brampton. The robbery at Verbunt’s store resulted in $85,000 in damages and approximately $120,000 worth of stolen jewelry, some of which was recovered on a neighboring property.
Following the incident, law enforcement apprehended four adults aged between 18 and 20, along with one teenager, from Scarborough in Toronto’s east end. They faced charges including robbery, disguise with intent, mischief over $5,000, theft over $5,000, and possession of property obtained through crime. Authorities were still searching for a sixth suspect at the time of publication.