Toronto

Vaughan HVAC store broken into for 3rd time in 5 months, police say

An HVAC store in Vaughan, Ont., has been broken into for a third time by thieves who smash their way in, grab what they can, and quickly take off, police say.

York police believe an organized crime network is behind the string of thefts

Raquel Fernandez
Store operations manager Raquel Fernandez says employees at the store are on edge after a series of break-ins. (Grant Linton/CBC)

An HVAC store in Vaughan, Ont., has been broken into for a third time by thieves who smash their way in, grab what they can, and quickly take off, police say.

Metalworks HVAC Superstores was targeted in incidents in August, October, and most recently on Jan. 23, according to York Regional Police.  

Security camera footage from the first two thefts provided to the CBC by Metalworks shows a van being used to smash through the shop's large garage-style doors. 

In the most recent incident, which came after Metalworks installed bollards to prevent vehicles from driving near the side of their store overnight, thieves were caught on security video smashing through the front door with what appears to be sledghammer.

Break-ins follow a pattern: manager

"They know exactly what they're doing," said store operations manager Raquel Fernandez, adding the suspects captured on video seemed to know the store's layout and were in and out within a few minutes. 

"They would proceed right to the counters where they, I assume, knew that we had tools and copper wire, things they could grab very quickly," she said. 

Fernandez says she has also spotted a pattern in the break-ins at her store, all of which happen in the early morning, between about 4:30 and 5:30 a.m. 

WATCH | Police investigate after HVAC store broken into for 3rd time: 

Vaughan, Ont., store broken into for 3rd time in 5 months

2 days ago
Duration 2:35
An HVAC store in Vaughan has been broken into for a third time in five months by armed thieves who smash their way in with the goal of stealing powertools. As CBC’s Ali Chiasson reports, the police are working on taking down the crime network they allege is behind the thefts.

Police suspect organized crime  

York Regional Police, who are investigating, say that they believe an organized crime network might be behind the thefts. 

"The lowest on the totem pole will go and do the dirty work, they steal the goods," said Const. Lisa Moskaluk of York Regional Police, while discussing previous cases that followed similar patterns. 

"As soon as they get that, maybe they are directed [by someone] whose specialized role is re-selling these goods." 

Moskaluk says the goods — especially tools — are then sold to buyers, many of whom know that what they're purchasing doesn't come from a legitimate source. 

Fernandez says Metalworks has responded to the thefts by upgrading its security system and installing the retractable bollards at the price tag of about $100,000. The owner of the store is also offering a $25,000 dollar reward for a tip leading to the capture and conviction of those responsible.  

The store says it is also now missing tens of thousands of dollars in tools and copper wire. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate McGillivray is a writer and newsreader in Toronto. She's worked for the CBC in Montreal, Sherbrooke, Whitehorse, St. John's and Saskatoon, and she always wants to hear your feedback and story ideas. Get in touch here: [email protected].

With files from Ali Chiasson