The Criminal Investigations Section West of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) arrested a suspect on Thursday in connection with a series of break-ins targeting businesses in the borough of Côte-des -Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN–NDG).
Paul Costigan, 43, was arrested around 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning. He appeared at the Montreal courthouse in the afternoon to face charges of breaking and entering, theft, possession of burglary tools and disguise with intent.
Over the past few weeks, about twenty businesses located in the CDN–NDG borough have been the target of break-ins. Most of the businesses affected are located on commercial arteries such as Sherbrooke Street West and Monkland Avenue. In all cases, the modus operandi was similar: the suspect entered the business after having smashed a glass door or a window. Once inside, the suspect emptied the cash drawer before quickly fleeing on foot. In some cases, items were also stolen.
Anyone with information that may be useful to the police investigation is invited to contact 911 or, anonymously and confidentially, Info-Crime Montréal at 514 393-1133 or via the reporting form available on the infocrimemontreal.ca website.
Safety tips
1.Make sure the exterior exits of your business are well lit.
2. Do not use tinted windows that darken the interior of your business.
3. Clear the windows of your business so as not to obstruct its visibility from the outside.
4.Light up the interior of your business at night.
5.Install a video surveillance system.
6.Make sure that the civic number is clearly visible at the front and at the back of your business.