Three youth suspects at large for breaking into gas station

A Shell logo is displayed in this file image (Source: AP)

Police in Barrie are searching for three teenage suspects who allegedly broke into a Shell Gas Station on Bayfield Street Wednesday evening.

According to police, they received a call around 7:45 p.m. about three youths who attempted to force their way into the gas station. Police say the youths were known to the clerk as they had stolen several items from the store in a previous incident.

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On Wednesday evening, police say the clerk recognized the youths and locked the door as he noticed them walking towards the store. One of the youths then allegedly threw a rock at the window and cracked its glass.

Police say they were able to obtain still photographs of the subjects through surveillance footage from a nearby fast-food restaurant but are unable to share them publicly due to provisions in the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

From the photographs, police believe the three suspects are between the ages of 14 and 16 years old with the following descriptions:

• The first was wearing a matching grey hoodie over the head with grey sweatpants. They had a logo of a tree on the left side of their hoodie and upper right thigh of their sweatpants. Police add that they were carrying a black satchel over their left shoulder and wore black running shoes with a white midsole.
• The second was wearing a black or navy-blue hoodie, black athletic pants with a cuffed bottom, white socks and black-coloured running shoes. Police add that they were wearing a medical mask under their chin that was attached to both ears, and that they had dark, thick, wavy black hair that appeared to be parted on the left side.
• The third was wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, black Adidas-style athletic pants with a cuffed bottom. Police add that they were wearing low cut Nike runners with a black swoosh.

Police are asking anyone who may recognize the three youth suspects to contact the investigating officer.