Two people have been arrested following a break and enter investigation.
The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) describes two separate incidents, one in Milton and one in Oakville, that occurred between September and October.
On Tuesday, September 28th, at roughly 10:00 p.m., two suspects broke into an office building on Bronte Street South in Milton. The suspects stole several electronic devices, including laptop computers. The suspects then broke into two other businesses located within the attached office building where they stole additional items such as currency, property keys, identification documents and credit cards belonging to employees. Later that night, both suspects attended numerous businesses in Hamilton where they fraudulently made purchases using the stolen credit cards.
On Friday, October 8th, at roughly 4:00 a.m., the same two suspects broke into an office building on Argus Road in Oakville. One of the suspects broke into two separate businesses within the office building and stole various items including laptop computers and currency. The suspect then broke into a family doctor’s office and stole various medications.
The two suspects were arrested on Tuesday, November 2nd.
40-year-old Thomas Laroche of Hamilton has been charged with:
- Break and Enter and Commit an Indictable Offence (three counts);
- Break and Enter with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence (three counts);
- Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (three counts); and,
- Fail to Comply with Release Order (two counts).
50-year-old Penny Hicks of Hamilton has been charged with:
- Break and Enter and Commit an Indictable Offence (three counts);
- Break and Enter with Intent to Commit an Indictable Offence (three counts); and,
- Fail to Comply with Release Order.
Hicks was released from custody on an undertaking and Laroche was held in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton.
Investigators also executed a search warrant at a residence in Hamilton belonging to and seized multiple items including stolen laptops, credit cards and electronics (see above photo).
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2416.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
