In a comprehensive investigation stretching back to December, police have charged five men from the Greater Toronto Area in relation to a series of commercial break-ins in Guelph, Ontario. The break-ins resulted in the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in goods, causing significant concern among local business owners. These suspects, ranging in age from 24 to 37, now face a multitude of serious charges.
The spate of break-ins targeted nine convenience stores and one auto repair shop. The culprits made off with large quantities of cigarettes and lottery scratch tickets from the convenience stores. Additionally, two vehicles were stolen from the auto repair shop, which were later used as transportation for further criminal activities. Police efforts led to the recovery of approximately 6,500 packs of cigarettes valued at $100,000 and over 800 stolen lottery scratch tickets. Authorities also seized $10,000 in cash believed to be linked to the crimes.
The investigation took a significant turn in February and March when police identified the suspects. Officers executed six search warrants across the Greater Toronto Area, which led to the arrest of four men. A fifth suspect was already in custody on unrelated charges. The suspects are now facing dozens of charges, including break and enter, possession of break-in instruments, disguise with intent, possession of stolen property over $5,000, and failure to comply with court-imposed orders.
Further investigations revealed that this group was not only responsible for the break-ins in Guelph but also linked to 10 additional break-ins across Waterloo Region and two in London, Ontario. This discovery highlights the extensive nature of their criminal activities beyond the immediate Guelph area.
