Peel Police recover nearly a $1 million in stolen goods
· Toronto Sun
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Peel Regional Police recovered nearly $1 million in stolen property following a break and enter at Square One in Mississauga.
“Retail theft has a direct and significant impact on local businesses and the broader community. Incidents like this not only result in financial loss but undermine the sense of safety for those who live and work in our region,” Peel Regional Police Marc Andrews said on Friday morning at Square One. “… The sheer magnitude of the property recovered speaks volumes to the scale we are dealing with.”
Break and enter
Police alleged that on April 30 at approximately 1:03 a.m., officers responded to a break and enter at the Holt Renfrew at Square One shopping mall in Mississauga.
The alleged suspect then fled the area using an unattended vehicle he stole nearby. From there, investigators from the 11 Division Break and Enter Auto and Retail Organized Crime Unit began an extensive review of the surveillance footage from the surrounding area. Through detailed investigative work, surveillance analysis, and evidence gathering during the investigation, investigators identified the suspect. He was taken and arrested without incident.
Officers executed a criminal code search warrant at the suspect’s residence.
“The results were significant: investigators recovered jewelry, lottery tickets and other property,” BEAR Det. Joseph Cardi said. High-end merchandise was also recovered in the bust.
Cardi estimates that 95% of the property recovered was jewelry stolen from Holt Renfrew.
“(Retail theft) too often serves as a revenue source for broader criminal enterprises,” said Nando Iannicca, Chair of the Peel Region Police Service Board. “This is why the board fully supported a proactive, intelligence (based) approach to invest in this growing challenge. As organized crime evolves, policing must evolve with it.”
Repeat offender
Amir Nikbakht, 41, of Mississauga, was charged with break and enter to commit an indictable offence, possession of break-in instruments, disguise with intent, theft of a motor vehicle, failure to comply and breach of probation. Nikbakht was arrested on April 30 and remains in police custody. He was out on probation when the incident occurred.
The investigation remains active and ongoing as investigators continue to identify additional victims and related theft occurrences.
“We do anticipate more charges,” Cardi said. Cardi believes Nikbakh acted alone. The detective noted the accused was arrested for “similar crimes in the past.”
Launched on Sept. 1 of last year, the BEAR unit has made 93 arrests and laid 577 charges. The police say retail theft has remained consistent in Peel Region over the last 12 months, but arrests and charges have increased by more than 30%.
“This is not a trend, this is not something that is casual, this is theft, and it has real impacts on our businesses, our employees and the community we serve,” Andrews said. “Here in Peel, we won’t tolerate it.”