The cell phone theft network established in the metropolis for a few months seems to be starting to extend its tentacles elsewhere in the province, when two Montrealers were arrested this week following a theft of nearly $30,000 in Thetford Mines.
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Mouad Bouchina and Nabil Nedjar were formally charged on Wednesday at the courthouse. The 19-year-old men, who have no criminal history, face charges of robbery, wearing a disguise with intent, conspiracy and accessory following the fact.
The crime occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday in a Bell store in the Galeries Appalaches, a shopping center on Frontenac Boulevard West. Three individuals entered and immediately threatened the clerk.
“They made him kneel down, took him to the back room and asked him to follow their instructions. One of them had a handgun in his hands,” explained Sergeant Yves Simoneau, of the Thetford Mines police.
22 phones stolen
The thieves managed to steal 22 phones, the value of which is estimated at around $28,000, according to authorities. They then fled in a silver-gray Volkswagen Jetta, in which a fourth suspect was waiting for them.
The clerk was not injured, but was hospitalized with nervous shock. He was subsequently interviewed by the police.
Quickly, the Thetford Mines investigators provided a description of the suspect vehicle to the Montreal police, since the owner lived on their territory. This is how Plateau Mont-Royal patrol officers were able to get hold of them a few hours later, at the end of the day, at the corner of Saint-André and Rachel Est streets.
Photo courtesy, Michel Durand
Police officers from neighborhood station 38 ordered the driver and his passenger to get out of the vehicle with their hands in the air since they thought they were armed.
As they were possibly armed, the officers made a “high risk” arrest, pointing their guns at them and ordering them to get out of the vehicle with their hands in the air. Since the intervention took place in broad daylight and in a busy area, many witnesses were able to see the scene.
The suspects were then arrested and brought to Thetford Mines to appear before a judge. In the end, no weapon was in the Jetta. Only three cell phones were found in the vehicle.
Overseas
The other two suspects involved in the robbery have not yet been located.
According to our information, the individuals arrested are linked to a well-established cell phone theft network in Montreal. Shortly following being stolen, the devices are usually shipped overseas to be resold. Dozens of Montreal businesses have been victims of this kind of theft in recent months.
