Five Chilean men living in Canada were arrested and charged for their alleged role in a series of residential break-and-enters across the Greater Toronto Area, according to York Regional Police.
Officers launched an investigation earlier this month which ultimately led them to identify the suspects following a residential break-and-enter on Avenue Road and Wilson Avenue in Toronto.
The same suspects subsequently attempted to commit a second break-and-enter near Indian Road and Woodeden Drive in Mississauga before returning to a rental property in the area of Burnhamthorpe Road and Eternity Way in Oakville.
Following their return, one of the suspects was arrested.
“Investigators from the York Regional Police Integrated Property Crime Task Force (IPCTF) have charged five suspects and recovered stolen property as a result of an investigation into a series of residential break and enters across York Region, Peel Region, and the City of Toronto,” reads the YRP release.
“One suspect was followed to a gas station where he was taken into custody. As investigators were getting ready to execute a search warrant, four additional suspects fled the residence and were taken into custody with the assistance of the Halton Regional Police Service.”
Upon executing a search warrant, police found many items of jewellery and other valuables, linking the accused parties to six separate break-and-enters.
Due to the large swath of items recovered, investigators have yet to process the entirety of the evidence.
“A Dropbox folder will be created in the coming weeks and subsequent media releases will be made available to the public to assist investigators in returning stolen property to rightful owners,” reads the release.
According to investigators, the accused entered and remained in Canada for the “purpose of committing criminal offences.”
The men, who are all originally citizens of Chile, have been identified as Michael Brandon Fornells Quezada, 27, Jonathan Alexis Gamboa Carrancio, 36, Claudio Andres Valdes Poblete, 39, Ricardo Javier Parada Neirda, 35, and Daniel Arturo Reyes Miranda, 32.
Their charges include six counts of break-and-enter each, as well as several other related offences.
The five accused men have had their photos made public to alert any possible additional victims who may want to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Integrated Property Crime Task Force at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7232, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.