(Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)
BY KELLY ROCHE
Mike Shapiro had an abrupt awakening at 1:45 a.m. Monday.
The glass door to his Lakeview shop, Sweet Angel Chocolate, had been shattered.
“I cleaned up everything. They made a big mess,” said Shapiro.
Cash registers were stolen, then tossed in assorted dumpsters after at least 10 businesses in Mississauga and Etobicoke were robbed in a series of smash and grab break-ins overnight along Lakeshore Rd. and Lake Shore Blvd.
As of 11:30 a.m., eight break-ins had been confirmed – east of Hurontario St. – in Port Credit and Lakeview alone.
“There’s been property damage, windows broken,” said Peel Regional Police Const. Rachel Gibbs.
Police are combing surveillance footage for tips.
The Burger’s Priest near Hurontario St. was among those targeted; Shapiro said his shop doesn’t even have a cash till.
“If they want to come back for lava cake, they can come back” during business hours, said Shapiro, noting he wasn’t upset.
The replacement glass cost $350, Shapiro said.
By 9 a.m., baking had already resumed, with two women – wearing hoodies – preparing dessert for the CN Tower.
“I’ll be delivering in about a half an hour,” he said.
Port Credit BIA general manager Ellen Timms was checking out the Lakeshore strip, where a new window had already been put in at the Priest.
Mike Shapiro had an abrupt awakening at 1:45 a.m. Monday.
The glass door to his Lakeview shop, Sweet Angel Chocolate, had been shattered.
“I cleaned up everything. They made a big mess,” said Shapiro.
Cash registers were stolen, then tossed in assorted dumpsters after at least 10 businesses in Mississauga and Etobicoke were robbed in a series of smash and grab break-ins overnight along Lakeshore Rd. and Lake Shore Blvd.
As of 11:30 a.m., eight break-ins had been confirmed – east of Hurontario St. – in Port Credit and Lakeview alone.
“There’s been property damage, windows broken,” said Peel Regional Police Const. Rachel Gibbs.
Police are combing surveillance footage for tips.
The Burger’s Priest near Hurontario St. was among those targeted; Shapiro said his shop doesn’t even have a cash till.
“If they want to come back for lava cake, they can come back” during business hours, said Shapiro, noting he wasn’t upset.
The replacement glass cost $350, Shapiro said.
By 9 a.m., baking had already resumed, with two women – wearing hoodies – preparing dessert for the CN Tower.
“I’ll be delivering in about a half an hour,” he said.
Port Credit BIA general manager Ellen Timms was checking out the Lakeshore strip, where a new window had already been put in at the Priest.
Shards of broken glass were visible near the entrance — if you looked closely.
“Usually, you see evidence of it the next day,” said Timms.
She acknowledged break-ins have happened before.
“Generally, it’s low-hanging fruit, $50 out of the till or whatever people leave behind and, you know, in and out as quickly as they can,” said Timms.
Her own clothing shop was robbed in the ’90s.
Timms said the experience is “very, very, frustrating. It’s the same as you feel when it’s your home property. You feel violated.”
Burger’s Priest is a Toronto-based chain; for mom and pop shops, “it really hurts the pocketbook. It’s a big expense,” said Timms.
Cops in Peel and Toronto are investigating.
“Usually, you see evidence of it the next day,” said Timms.
She acknowledged break-ins have happened before.
“Generally, it’s low-hanging fruit, $50 out of the till or whatever people leave behind and, you know, in and out as quickly as they can,” said Timms.
Her own clothing shop was robbed in the ’90s.
Timms said the experience is “very, very, frustrating. It’s the same as you feel when it’s your home property. You feel violated.”
Burger’s Priest is a Toronto-based chain; for mom and pop shops, “it really hurts the pocketbook. It’s a big expense,” said Timms.
Cops in Peel and Toronto are investigating.
Anyone with information can call 905-453-3311 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.
@qewsouthpost
@qewsouthpost
qewsouthpost.com 