A 12-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy are each facing a number of charges, accused of robbing two women and trying to kidnap a baby in Scarborough’s Guildwood neighbourhood.
Police were able to catch two suspects after a mother told police she was punched and kicked by two youth who demanded she hand over her 21-month old daughter, her money and her cellphone. They threatened to hurt the child if she didn’t comply.
The 29-year-old woman said she was walking home on Livingston Road from the GO station just before 11 p.m. when she was attacked. During the confrontation, she told police she did all she could to physically cover her daughter but at one point, she fell backwards and the female aggressor was able to snatch the baby from her grip. The mom was able to grab her daughter back, only to be kicked and punched by the youth, police say.
The two suspects grabbed her purse and ran.
The woman was able to call police with a cellphone she had in her pocket. Officers arrived at the scene five minutes later and spotted a young girl matching the description of the suspect as she attempted to flee the scene. The boy was nowhere in sight.
Police said additional officers were called in to help set up a perimeter and search for the male suspect. A male suspect was arrested in the vicinity of the attack at around 12:15 a.m.
The woman and child were taken to hospital but police say their injuries were minor in nature. Police on the scene told CP24 the emotional trauma from the incident will take some time to recover from.
"The emotional impact is to be taken quite seriously," Toronto Police Staff Sgt. Peter Moreira said.
After their arrest, the suspects were linked to a robbery that took place earlier Thursday evening, at around 7:45 p.m., in Scarborough’s Woburn neighbourhood, near Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East.
In that instance, a 38-year-old woman had just walked into a pathway off of Greenbrae Circuit when she was grabbed and pushed to the ground by a young female and young male.
She told police the two tore off her purse which was slung across her chest and fled the area. The woman was able to locate a passerby who promptly called police. Although officers searched the neighbourhood, the suspects weren’t immediately located.
Both victims were random targets, chosen because of opportunity, police said.
The suspects, who can’t be publicly identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, are facing a number of charges including robbery and abduction, according to 43 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau Det. Gary Woods.
Police said they have been in contact with both of the suspects parents as well as Children’s Aid. Support will be given to the suspects because of their age.
"Although they are accused of violent acts, they need help," said Staff Insp. Art Litte.
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