Ancaster Jewellers: five arrested after more than $60,000 in inventory is recovered — a probe into an alleged ring that targeted jewelry retailers across Ontario.
- Price: > $60,000 in merchandise seized
- Carat weight: Mixed — watches and assorted jewellery (inventory being catalogued)
- Origin: Ancaster Jewellers (Ancaster, Hamilton) and multiple Ontario jurisdictions
- Date of incident: Break‑in Nov. 17, 2025; arrests announced Dec. 12, 2025
The Context
Hamilton Police, working under an investigation code‑named Project Crowbar, say a coordinated group used reconnaissance visits and overnight break‑ins — leveraging crowbars and a minivan getaway — to remove high‑end watches, jewellery and repair tools from independent retailers across Hamilton and other Ontario markets. Units including the Break Enter Auto Theft and Robbery (BEAR) team, Major Drugs and Major Gangs executed search warrants at two residences and multiple vehicles; authorities report the recovery of more than $60,000 in suspected stolen property and a stolen BMW.
The seized inventory remains in forensic intake; a complete catalogue of carat weights and individual items could take days or weeks. Officers have named five accused: Silviu Moraru, 36 (Stoney Creek); Ion‑Ciprian Constantin, 30; Mircea Drezaliu, 36; Ionut Stroe, 25 (Hamilton); and Vasile Vasile, 36 (Brampton). The probe spans Brantford, Guelph, Niagara, Peel and parts of Quebec, suggesting the pattern was regional rather than opportunistic.
The Impact
For US independent retailers and investors who source or insure small‑batch high‑value inventory, this case underscores two practical exposures. First, the tactile attributes that make pieces desirable — vitreous luster on diamonds, the substantial heft and finishing on luxury watches — also make them portable and liquid in secondary markets. Second, the economics of loss: $60,000 recovered is meaningful for a single shop’s working inventory and can push margins and insurance premiums upward on cross‑border consignments.
In 2025 the market has seen rising attention to inventory provenance, enhanced tracking and the growing role of insured transport for higher‑value pieces. Retailers should consider stricter on‑floor reconnaissance protocols (staff authentication of customers), bolstered overnight barriers, and clear, itemized intake records with high‑resolution imaging to accelerate recovery and insurance claims if a loss occurs.
Why this matters to buyers and investors
Stolen stock entering the informal market distorts supply signals that investors use to value rare pieces and emerging designers. A surge in illicit availability can temporarily depress resale values for specific references while increasing reputational risk for dealers who accept goods without robust provenance checks. For portfolio managers of jewelry assets, tightened due diligence and updated insurance endorsements are an immediate hedge.
Hamilton Police continue to take leads and are asking anyone with information to contact Det.‑Const. Carolyn Crnac at 905‑540‑6329 or Det.‑Staff Sgt. David Brewster at 905‑546‑2991, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1‑800‑222‑8477. The investigation remains ongoing.
Practical takeaways for retailers: document the substantial heft and finishing of incoming stock, invest in forensic‑grade imaging, and revisit overnight physical security to protect concentrated value — because liquidity in luxury can be as quick as a crowbar and a minivan.
Image Referance: https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/jewelry-store-robbery-charges