Hamilton police are investigating a rash of overnight break and enters that targeted five separate stores and restaurants between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Friday.

The first robbery happened around 2:20 a.m. at a jewelry store on King Street East, according to Const. Lorraine Edwards. A second incident was recorded at a Tim Hortons on Barton Street East after a suspect was spotted on a security camera in the restaurant around 2:41 a.m.

Just a few minutes later, a break and enter allegedly happened at a convenience store on Old Brock Road around 2:50 a.m., said Edwards. In that case the door was pried open and some cigarettes were taken.

Police also responded to an alarm at a Rogers Store on Highway 5 around 3:08 a.m. Video shot at the scene showed broken glass and damaged displays.

The front door of Pub Fiction in Ancaster was also smashed in around 4:19 a.m. said Edwards, and a vehicle was seen fleeing the scene.

GTA also sees string of break-ins

The series of break-ins comes as police in Toronto, Peel and Halton issued a public safety warning after a group of suspects allegedly carried out "up to 15" robberies across the GTA late Wednesday and into Thursday.

Using a stolen vehicle, the pack held up gas stations, convenience stores across the GTA, according to Toronto police Const. David Hopkinson.

The first GTA-area robbery was reported in Peel around 9 p.m. Thursday. (Tony Smyth/CBC)

Edwards said it's too early to say whether the string of Hamilton break-ins could be related.

"Hamilton Police are still investigating wether there is any correlation with the over night break and enters in the Hamilton area," she said. "Due to the stage of the investigations Hamilton Police are unable to confirm if they are linked to the GTA."