Break-ins target businesses in Greater Toronto Area; teen from Mississauga charged

An investigation into a series of break-and-enters at businesses across the Greater Toronto Area has led to the arrest of a teenager from Mississauga.

York Regional Police said they charged the 16-year-old boy after executing a search warrant at a Mississauga home on June 11.

Officers involved in the search also recovered a replica firearm “believed to have been used during the break-ins” and a stolen vehicle, police said in a news release on Thursday.

Investigators with York police teamed up with their counterparts at Peel Regional Police in March to launch an investigation into a rash of commercial break-ins that targeted businesses in Vaughan and elsewhere in the GTA.

Police said they believe a lone culprit “forced entry into businesses overnight, targeting safes and cash” during the crime spree.

Subsequent investigation led police to the Mississauga home last week.

A 16-year-old male of Mississauga is charged with:

• Break-and-enter — four counts.
• Mischief under $5,000 — four counts.
• Theft over $5,000 — two counts.
• Disguise with intent — two counts.
• Possession of property obtained by crime — two counts.
• Fail to comply with release order — three counts.

At the time of the offences, the accused was bound by a release order, police said.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the identity of the teen cannot be revealed.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7445, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.