A career criminal once again finds himself behind bars for having probably set up a scheme that led to the theft of nearly 300 electronic locks with one of his friends in Laval.
“At the rate they were going, it was almost a full-time job for them,” said a police source.
Christos Sideris was arrested on February 23 while selling a series of suspected stolen electronic door locks.
The 61-year-old has a slew of criminal records, including sexual assault, theft, assault, dangerous driving, uttering threats, mischief and breaking and entering with intent. to commit a criminal act there.
His co-accused is Miltiadis Kerasias, a 60-year-old man who has also had previous run-ins with the law.
Courtesy photos, Laval Police
Co-defendants Christos Sideris (left) and Miltiadis Kerasias (right).
The two men are, this time, accused of theft and receiving. Sideris remains in detention pending further proceedings, while Kerasias has been released with conditions.
The duo have been on investigators’ radar since last July, when reports of thefts of electronic locks from known hardware stores began in the city.
Less than five minutes
The modus operandi of the two suspects was simple: they park their vehicle, enter the branch and head straight for the lock department.
They would slip at least one subtly into a bag or their coat, then leave the store immediately. In less than five minutes, the crime was committed.
This ploy could be done several times a day, almost daily, according to the police.
What’s more, thieves almost exclusively selected Weiser brand electronic locks, which retail for $200 to $350.
In total, authorities seized 73 locks from a junk shop, the value of which is estimated at more than $15,000. But in reality, the individuals would have stolen 292 of them, which represents more than $60,000, according to the Laval police.
Investigators have reason to believe that the duo could have committed other thefts in Laval, Montreal, the South Shore and the North Shore.
They therefore invite hardware store owners to check their inventory and view the images from their surveillance cameras.