Toronto police have arrested two men in connection with a series of violent robberies, including one at a well-known Innisfil gas station.
On Aug. 6, the Toronto Police Service announced the suspects had been taken into custody. Officers from the Toronto hold-up unit say that, between July 14 and 25, police responded to six takeover-style robberies where knives and firearms were used in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding jurisdictions.
It is alleged the two men and other yet-to-be-identified suspects entered stores and used zip ties, knives and firearms to control victims and commit robberies. The suspects apparently took money from cash registers and lottery tickets.
During one of the incidents, a suspect is alleged to have fired a handgun at a victim attempting to flee, but missed.
The investigation was conducted with the help of the York Regional, Ontario Provincial and South Simcoe police services. Through this effort, two of the suspects were identified — they were subsequently located and arrested on Aug. 2.
“On Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, with the assistance of 31 Division Major Crime Unit, 31 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau and 31 Division Primary Response Unit, five Criminal Code search warrants were executed in relation to the investigation,” Toronto Const. Stephanie Miceli said in a news release. “As a result, clothing worn during the robberies was located. Further investigation revealed that the two suspects were also responsible for two break-and-enter occurrences on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024 in the 31 Division area.”
South Simcoe police confirmed one of the alleged robberies reported by Toronto police is the July 20 incident at the longtime Trotters Esso station near the Yonge Street and Shore Acres Drive intersection in Fennell’s Corners, but they declined to comment further.
However, a news release sent out days after that incident says one of the suspects was armed with a knife, and it is believed the second suspect was in possession of a firearm. Cash was obtained and there were no injuries reported.
Both of the men arrested are from Toronto. Clinten Creese, 27, and Troy Creese, 21, each face charges of disguise with intent (six counts), forcible confinement (three counts), robbery with a firearm (three counts), robbery while armed with an offensive weapon (three counts), and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
They were held for bail court appearances on Aug. 3.
Several unidentified suspects remain at-large.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350. They can also leave an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 or 222tips.com.
