More than 100 officers involved in takedown Two Hornby residents among eight charged in hold-up of jewelry store

Two Hornby residents are among eight people charged by Peel Police in connection with a daring November jewelry heist at a store in Brampton. During the Nov. 17 incident, at least three masked bandits robbed Zaibi Jewellers, on Ray Lawson Blvd. One of the culprits disguised himself in a black burqa, the traditional gown worn by Muslin women, to gain entry into the store. The culprits viciously assaulted the owner of the store and then forcibly confined him. A quantity of jewelry was stolen, and the culprits fled. Police have been investigating the robbery for six weeks and the takedown involved more than 100 Peel Police officers assisted by Toronto Police Emergency Task Force and Durham Regional Police tactical teams. Officers co-ordinated a series of simultaneous pre-dawn raids. Five search warrants were executed at 6 a.m. in Peel Region, Toronto and Ajax. Six suspects were sought for a variety of robbery related offences and additional search warrants were executed by the fraud bureau for their portion of the extensive multi-jurisdictional investigation. Two previous robberies involving South Asian jewelry stores in Peel Region were successfully investigated by the task force. Four people were charged and a portion of the stolen jewelry was recovered from those Sept. 2005 and Oct. 2006 occurrences. Area residents charged in connection with the robbery are Nadeem Shah, 41, of Hornby and Melodia Shah, 45 of Hornby. Nadeem Shah is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of stolen property, possession of instruments of forgery and possession of credit card data, fraud over $5,000, and breach of recognizance. Shah was held for a bail hearing last Thursday. Melodia Shah is charged with fraud over $5,000. She is to be in Brampton court on Jan. 22. Also charged were three residents of Mississauga and one each from Toronto, Scarborough and Ajax.