Six of the accused are under 18, two were only 14, and eight were out on bail for prior charges

An investigation dubbed Project Mayhem has resulted in 10 arrests for 26 armed robberies at GTA pharmacies between Dec. 8, 2022, and Feb. 10, 2023. Photo by Toronto Police video /Youtube

Ten people have been arrested, many of them youths, for more than two dozen terrifying takeover-style robberies across the GTA in recent weeks.

And Toronto Police say eight of the accused in the investigation – dubbed Project Mayhem – were out on bail at the time of their arrests for the armed heists.

During a news conference held at police headquarters on Wednesday, Holdup Unit commander Insp. Rich Harris explained that between Dec. 8, 2022, and Feb. 10, 2023, cops in Toronto, Peel Region, Halton Region and York Region responded to several pharmacy robberies.

“We’re talking about people coming in and doing takeover-style robberies, hopping the counters, armed with weapons – knives and firearms – and using physical force, quite frankly, when it’s not necessary because the pharmacists for the most part are actually compliant with the demands being made of them and they’re still subjected to violence,” he said.

In most incidents, Harris said the bandits stole undisclosed quantities of cash and narcotics, then fled an awaiting stolen vehicle.

“During the extensive investigation, the team made multiple arrests on four different dates,” Harris said.

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Charged with a slew of related offences are Nathan Kelly, 20, Terrance Timm, 19, Armani Brown, 18, Jahshaide Clarke, 20, two 17-year-old boys, a boy, 16, a boy, 15, and two 14-year-old boys.

Harris said there were no serious physical injuries suffered by any of the victims in the 26 robberies.

“But one can only hazard a guess the psychological impact it has on the pharmacists, the community as a whole, and those shoppers that are within the pharmacies when these are taking place.,” he said.

cdoucette@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @sundoucette

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