Since October 2020, seven businesses in Seaforth, Parkhill, Forest, Lucknow, Hanover, Walkerton and Listowel have been victim of similar break, enter and thefts.
On February 19th just before 1 am a Perth County OPP officer was investigating a report of a suspect rummaging through unlocked vehicles in North Perth when a vehicle was observed failing to stop at a stop sign.
A traffic stop was conducted on Main Street West in Listowel and during the investigation the officer noticed the vehicle matched the description of a suspect vehicle in the break and enters.
While officers were speaking with the occupants, it was reported that a break and enter at a business on Wallace Avenue North in Listowel had just occurred. The suspect had broken a window to gain access.
The driver and passenger, matching the surveillance footage, were arrested for the break and enter.
The subsequent investigation confirmed that they were also responsible for the 7 previous similar occurrences.
As a result a 33 year old male of Huron East has been charged with break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence, 7 counts of break and enter a place and commit indictable offences, 8 counts of mischief under $5000, 7 counts of theft under $5000 and possession of break in instruments.
Also a 30 year old male of Huron East has been charged with break and enter a place with intent to commit an indictable offence, 6 counts of break and enter committing an indictable offence, 7 counts of mischief under $5000, 6 counts of theft under $5000 and possession of break in instruments.
The accused parties were released from custody and are scheduled to appear at the Stratford Court at a later date to answer to the charges.