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The Ottawa Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance to identify four men involved in at least two recent smash-and-grab jewelry store robberies in the south end of the city.

According to police, the first robbery occurred at about 6 p.m. on Oct. 27 when four suspects entered a jewellery store in the Hazeldean Mall., smashing a number of display cases and grabbing an undisclosed amount of jewelry.

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They fled to a vehicle parked nearby.

There were no injuries.

The second robbery occurred the next day at 2:55 p.m. when four suspects followed the same procedure at a jewelry store in a plaza on Greenbank Road in Barrhaven.

They fled with tan undisclosed amount of merchandise. Again, there were no injuries.

Police investigators believe the two incidents to be linked.

The suspects are described as black males, in their late teens through to early 20s with slender builds. While the men tried to disguise their identity while inside the stores, police said one suspect had a cast or bandage on his right hand (see below).

Police said they are also looking to speak to a person who was in the Barrhaven jewelry store minutes before the suspects entered.

Police believe this man may have information that could help with their investigation. The man is described as being a black male in his 30s, with short curly dark hair. At the time he was seen wearing blue jeans with a white belt, and a blue jacket.

Photo by Handout

Anyone with information is asked to call Ottawa police robbery unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5116. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).