Police investigate separate robberies in Cambridge and Waterloo

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating two separate robberies at Conestoga Mall and Cambridge Centre. CTV's Leighanne Evans reports.

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating separate robberies in Cambridge and Waterloo.

According to a social media post at 6:03 p.m. Monday, officers were in the following areas:

• Pinebush Road and Conestoga Boulevard (near the Cambridge Smart Centre)
• Cambridge Centre Mall on Hespeler Road
• Conestoga Mall on King Street North in Waterloo

Police have not confirmed if the robberies are connected.

“I was pretty shaken up”

Cambridge resident Ryan O’Hare was at Cambridge Centre getting smoothies with his 3-year-old daughter when he heard a commotion.

“I heard some smashing and stuff, so I figured somebody must have dropped something,” he recalled. “And it was right where they set up the Santa Claus display. It’s crazy around this time of year too. I was pretty nervous, and I was pretty shaken up for a bit.”

He said he saw multiple suspects.

“In no time, the security guards rushed in and there was a police [officer] that came in, and his gun was fully drawn,” he said.

O’Hare said one of the suspects was caught by police, but the others took off.

“The other [suspects] ran into the movie theatre, and that’s when more cops started coming in.”

O’Hare said he has been to that mall many times and never thought something like that would happen.

“My 7-year-old recently had a birthday party at the bowling alley there. We go to the movie theatre there. We do Christmas shopping there. Never once did I feel worried that I’d be in a position like that.”

More to come.