A bold smash-and-grab robbery at the Michael Hill Jewellers store inside Place d’Orléans Shopping Centre on Friday evening left both shoppers and retailers in shock. The incident, which occurred just before 7 p.m., was caught on video, showing three masked suspects breaking into the store and smashing glass display cases with hammers before fleeing the scene.
Staff confirmed this was not the first time Michael Hill has been targeted, pointing to a similar robbery at their Bayshore Shopping Centre location just months earlier. This latest incident marks the fourth jewellery store robbery reported in Ottawa-area malls over the past month, with previous smash-and-grabs occurring at Carlingwood Mall, Billings Bridge, and another store within Place d’Orléans.
A nearby witness reported hearing loud crashing noises around 6:48 p.m., comparing the sound to plates being shattered. Quick-thinking employees at a neighbouring store closed their security gate as the robbery unfolded. Mall security arrived at 6:54 p.m., followed by police four minutes later, though the suspects had already fled.
While the exact value of the stolen items remains unknown, the aftermath was clear the next morning as store employees cleaned up and kept the premises closed to the public.
Security experts have noted that the nature of the crime suggests planning and coordination, likely linked to organized crime networks. Such operations require sophisticated logistics to offload large volumes of stolen jewellery, pointing beyond simple, opportunistic thefts.
Police have not yet released an official statement on the ongoing investigation. The incident highlights growing concerns about the frequency and boldness of high-value thefts in Ottawa’s retail centres.
