Two men arrested after series of industrial break-ins in Niagara

Two men have been charged following an investigation into a series of break-ins at electrical facilities in St. Catharines and Thorold.

Niagara police say the two men broke into multiple electrical facilities between February and March and stole copper and power tools.

The stolen copper was then sold to a local scrap metal business.

As a result of the investigation, on April 7 44-year-old Joseph Ernest Speck of St. Catharines was charged with the following offences:

• Break and enter and commit an indictable offence (place other than dwelling)
• Possession of break-in instruments

While in custody, on May 20 Speck was charged with:

• Break and enter and commit an indictable offence (place other than dwelling)
• Fail to comply with probation.

On June 9 Speck was charged with an additional offence: Break and enter and commit an indictable offence (place other than dwelling) – two counts.

Forty-five-year-old Thomas Summerfield of Thorold was charged with the following offences:

• Fail to comply with a release order
• Break and enter and commit an indictable offence (place other than dwelling) – four counts
• Trafficking in property obtained by crime not exceeding $5,000
• Fail to comply with a release order
• Fail to comply with a probation order

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1009782.

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