A brazen daytime robbery that saw members of the Hells Angels steal the vests of members of a rival motorcycle gang in downtown Cambridge, Ont., has led to charges against five men.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say four men have been arrested. A fifth remains at large.
“This is two rival gangs meeting in a public place during the day when public and families and children are around and conducted a violent robbery,” Det. Insp. Scott Wade told CBC News. “It just kind of drives home these are not motorcycle enthusiasts, these are criminal members of biker gangs.”
Wade says the robbery happened in September. He said OPP worked with the Waterloo Regional Police Service during the investigation and they conducted four search warrants.
Those search warrants resulted in the seizure of:
-
17 firearms.
-
A prohibited device called a “get back whip” which is a whip with a weight on the end.
-
Ammunition and magazines.
-
Multiple cellphones.
-
Two possession and acquisition licences (gun licences) of two Hells Angels members.
-
Three Hells Angels vests.
-
A quantity of “unknown pills.”
-
Stolen property.
Police say the five people face 14 charges. The five people charged are:
-
A 34-year-old Seaforth man with five charges including robbery, possession of property obtained by crime, theft under $5,000, contravention of storage regulations and unauthorized possession of a weapon.
-
A 39-year-old Kitchener man with three charges including robbery and possession of property obtained by crime.
-
A 38-year-old Cambridge man with three charges including robbery, possession of property obtained by crime and theft under $5,000.
-
A 36-year-old man from Whitby with two charges including robbery and disguise with intent.
-
The individual who remains at large is a 29-year-old Northumberland County man who faces one charge of robbery.
Wade said the initial robbery that led to the investigation is “very concerning” because of the violence that was involved in a very public setting.
He added motorcycle gang activity across the province remains “very prevalent” but also noted there is a big difference between motorcycle enthusiasts and people who are part of organized crime.
“Harley [Davidson] owner groups, people that get together and ride their Harleys on a Sunday, that’s totally lawful,” he said. “We don’t want to paint everyone with one brush.”
He said those involved in criminal gangs stretch “from Thunder Bay to Ottawa and Ottawa to Windsor.”
“Their numbers are growing,” he said, adding police services across the province also work together to combat the criminal activity.
“We investigate outlaw motorcycle gangs and we’re constantly working, collaborating, sharing and improving our investigative tactics.”