Hamilton armed robbery suspect still on loose

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(Updated)

Police still looking for one of the armed robbers who tried to hold up a jewelry store at Eastgate Mall Thursday night. The other is in hospital after the store owners put up a fight.

“It’s a kind of nightmare.” And jewelry store owner Sajid Ali feels like he’s still living it: “I am very traumatized. It’s very scary.”

He was working in the back room of Fine Touch Jewelers on Thursday evening with his brother while his sister-in-law was cleaning some display cases out front when a pair of robbers wearing construction vests tried to hold up the store.

Sajid Ali said: “The way she screamed. She had never screamed like that before. Is still echoing in my ears.”

When they rushed to the front, they saw a man stealing jewelry from one of the cases and another outside the store with a gun. They tried to stop the robber. Their only weapon was a hammer.

Hamilton Police Sgt. Evangelista: “The suspect tried to grab it and that’s when the struggle continued and the hammer was used.”

Ali said: “I can’t recall, it just happened like a flashing. Seconds.”

They were able to hold the thief down until police arrived. He was taken to hospital with a broken shoulder and injuries to his head and leg.

The other man fired his gun at least twice inside Eastgate Mall.

The man took off through Sears and came out of this exit. He then got in to a dark coloured pickup truck that was parked here in the lot.

Nothing was stolen from the store. And although Ali and his brother weren’t hurt, they still can’t believe what happened: “Not even in my wildest dreams.”

And it’s an experience they’d like to forget: “I am trying not to think not to recall trying to be with those normal people so that we can actually forget this.”

Ali said today ‘I have a second life.’ He says they are still in shock

Police haven’t identified the man they have in custody yet. He’s in his mid-20’s and he’s not cooperating with police.

They are still looking for the second man. He’s white, about 6 feet, in his 20’s with a medium build.

The store had security video so police hope that will help them catch this guy. As for the truck he took off in, they don’t have a license plate yet.

If you have any information, call Hamilton Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).