It was over in under two minutes.
On January 8, five men walked into Shimoon Jewellers at Dalhousie Station Shopping Centre in northwest Calgary just after 1:40 p.m. No words, no warnings. They pulled out hammers and went straight for the display cases. Glass hit the floor, jewellery disappeared into their hands, and they walked out the front door into a stolen black Ford F-150 that had been sitting outside with the engine running.
The owner never saw it coming. He said the men didn't say a single word they just started smashing. By the time anyone around them reacted, they were already gone.
Total damage came to an estimated $200,000 between the stolen jewellery and the destroyed cases. The owner told reporters he'd likely need to shut down for up to two months just to recover.
Who They Caught
Calgary Police worked the case over the following weeks and have since charged three men.
Jonathan Michael Orgill, 44, is facing robbery, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and breaching a release order. Austin James Florell, 30, was charged with robbery, being disguised with intent, possession of stolen property, and four counts of breaching a release order meaning he was already out on conditions when the robbery happened. Both men are in custody and appeared in court February 25.
A third suspect, Joed Leonard Smith, 44, has been charged by warrant with robbery and being disguised with intent. He's still at large.
The Man Still Out There
Smith is described as six feet tall, around 198 pounds, bald, with blue eyes and heavy tattoos across his body. Police believe he was inside that store on January 8.
If you know where he is, call Calgary Police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. Case number CA26011086.
Questions That Remain
Police originally identified five suspects in the robbery but have only announced charges against three. A fourth was confirmed fleeing in the getaway truck. Calgary Police have not indicated whether the investigation into the remaining suspects is ongoing or closed leaving at least one person connected to this crime publicly unaccounted for.
What This Means for Calgary Businesses
The Shimoon robbery is part of a much bigger problem. Commercial break-ins in Calgary jumped by double digits in 2025, according to Calgary Police's own Q3 Statistical Report. Chief Constable Mark Neufeld called repeat offenders and organized retail crime a top priority as far back as October 2025 — and yet Calgary Police received over 3,200 retail crime reports in just the first half of last year alone.
Calgary Police do have a dedicated Organized Retail Crime Team, but officers are working within an existing budget. No new provincial funding was added in 2025 to address the surge. For small business owners like the owner of Shimoon Jewellers, that means a two-month closure, $200,000 in losses, and a system that's moving slower than the crews targeting them.
The Bigger Picture
Two of the three men charged were already out on release conditions when police say they walked in with hammers. The robbery itself was clearly coordinated a lookout at the door, a running getaway vehicle, masks, timing. This wasn't opportunistic. Someone planned it.
The store is trying to rebuild. Two suspects are behind bars. One is still out there somewhere in Calgary.
Source: Calgary Police Service
https://newsroom.calgary.ca/arrests-made-in-dalhousie-jewellery-store-robbery/
