Jewellery store owners across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are expressing growing concern—and frustration—as a wave of targeted break-ins continues to impact their livelihoods. Recent incidents have left many store owners shaken, financially devastated, and questioning whether their business is even viable in today’s climate of organized retail crime. Hamza Ali Nawaz, who co-owns Nawaz Jewellers with his father in a Markham plaza off Markham Road, is among the latest victims. “I am not even sure if it’s worth doing this business here anymore,” he said. “My father worked very hard to build this business. It’s our whole life and it was taken in a matter of minutes.”

Professional Thieves Breach Shared Walls and Security Systems

The shocking incident occurred on June 30, just before 1 a.m., when a group of masked individuals broke into the store next door and smashed through the shared cinderblock wall to gain access to Nawaz Jewellers' back room. “They came inside, they took the safe and ran away,” Nawaz recalled. The safe contained their entire in-store stock, estimated at nearly $2 million in value. Despite implementing a series of security measures, including dual iron gates, barred display cases, and a secure backroom, these features proved no match for the calculated actions of what many now believe is a professional theft ring.

A Disturbing Pattern of Jewellery Store Crimes in the GTA

Just two weeks earlier, another jewellery store owner, Naseer Din in Etobicoke, faced a near-identical attack. “They also broke through a wall, entered my business and took my vault,” he said. “This is a professional gang. They know what they’re doing.” Both store owners now join a growing list of victims reporting similar break-ins across the GTA. Since January of this year, at least eight jewellery stores in Toronto have been targeted, with another seven robberies reported in the York region. These crimes are not only growing in number but in sophistication, prompting fears among small business owners who feel increasingly vulnerable.

Frustrations Mount Over Delayed Investigations

Despite promptly reporting the crime and sharing surveillance footage, Nawaz says he has received little communication from authorities. “There is no progress. I call them and they say like you are in a queue, so it will take time,” he said. “If they had done something sooner we might have recovered something.” In response to mounting criticism, York Regional Police confirmed that a detective is actively investigating the case. However, citing the open nature of the investigation, they declined to offer details on the current status or confirm whether the Markham and Etobicoke cases are connected.

Police Response and Cross-Region Collaboration

While specific links between the recent thefts have not been officially confirmed, York Regional Police stated that when incidents appear serial in nature, they are typically referred to the Integrated Property Crime Task Force. “This specialized team investigates patterns believed to involve the same suspect or group, and a formal project is established to coordinate the response,” a police spokesperson said. They also emphasized that such investigations often span multiple jurisdictions, making them complex and time-consuming.

Store Owners Feel Abandoned Despite Tight Security

Both Nawaz and Din insist they’ve done everything possible to prevent such crimes, from physical barriers and alarm systems to advanced surveillance. But these efforts haven’t been enough. “All of that didn’t stop these guys. We need help because these types of crimes keep happening,” Nawaz emphasized. For many jewellers, the mounting risk and lack of timely resolution from law enforcement is pushing them to reconsider their futures in the business.

A Cry for Help from a Shaken Business Community

Years of hard work, trust-building with customers, and careful investment have been wiped out in moments. “It is very terrible nowadays to do business of this kind. I am close to retiring,” said Din. “This was my whole livelihood and now it’s gone.” Nawaz echoed the sentiment: “Right now we have nothing. We are like in debt right now.” Both men have chosen to share their stories and release surveillance video publicly in hopes that someone can help identify the suspects and recover the stolen merchandise.

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