break-ins

By Dan Laxer
The Suburban

The Suburban has reported on the recent rise in commercial break-ins in the CDN-NDG borough, particularly along Victoria Avenue, in the area between the Plamondon and Côte-Sainte-Catherine Métro stations. There were also break-ins reported in other parts of the borough, on Queen Mary Road and Décarie Blvd.Last week the police made an arrest.

A 44-year-old man – a resident of Montreal West – was picked up last Tuesday night around 11:30. He appeared in court the following day to answer several charges of break-and-enter, or in French, “effraction dans un endroit autre qu’une maison d’habitation.”

The addresses in each count correspond to Coco Café on Cote des Neiges and Mon Ami Express on Victoria Avenue. He was also charged with one count of attempted break-and-enter, and one count of breaking into a home on Décarie Blvd near Place Kenmore.

In each incident the accused committed or attempted to commit theft.

The crimes he is accused of all took place between July 25 and August 10.

SPVM spokesperson Melanie Bergeron told The Suburban that investigations into other break-ins are still underway, but she would not give specifics so as to not compromise investigations.

Police have stepped up patrols in the areas. Commandant Stéphane Rodrigue of SPVM Station 26 told The Suburban that the police are putting all their efforts into identifying and arresting suspects to “put an end to these break-ins.” n