Break-ins at four Guelph restaurants believed to be related

Police believe a single suspect is behind four break-ins at Guelph restaurants that saw cash and safes targeted.

The incidents all happened Friday and in each case, a male suspect either smashed glass doors or windows to gain entry, or pried open a back door while the businesses were closed. Two of them happened in the Woodlawn Road area, while the two others happened in the same plaza near Gordon Street and Harvard Road.

Not all of the theft incidents were successful, as a small safe was found damaged but unopened a short distance away from one of the restaurants.

The suspect in each break-in is described as a male who was wearing a face mask, gloves, a hoodie, grey track pants, a Reebok backpack, and a baseball cap with a Louis Vuitton pattern on it.

A timeline of the incidents:

Friday at 6:30 a.m.: Police were called to the business near Woodlawn Road West and Imperial Road North, where the investigation led them to believe the suspect smashed the glass door with a sledgehammer before dragging a small safe outside. The safe was damaged but unopened.

At 7:45 a.m.: Officers then tracked to a plaza near Gordon Street and Harvard Road where staff from another business reported hearing broken glass and seeing someone inside a closed business. Police did not arrive in time to catch the suspect but noted a front window had been smashed and a small safe was taken.

Just after 9 a.m.: A business near Elmira Road North and Woodlawn Road West reported a glass door smashed. Video shows a male arriving at the business at 5:46 a.m. and using a hammer to break the door. Police said cash was stolen.

Around 11:45 a.m.: Staff from another business in the same plaza as the second incident arrived to find a rear door had been pried open and cash stolen.

Guelph police think the break-ins are related and they’re asking anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Ian Smith at 519-824-1212 ext. 7125, or email ismith@guelphpolice.ca.

Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Stoppers online or by phoning 1-800-222-8477.