Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officers have been investigating commercial break and enters in Fort Erie, Welland, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines that have occurred between January 21 – 29, 2022.
The suspects caused damage breaking into the businesses and stole what cash and valuables they could find. The estimates related to the break and enters exceeds $10,000
On January 29, 2022, at approximately 4:50AM, a 2 District Niagara Falls uniform officer with the NRPS conducted a focused crime prevention patrol in the area of McLeod Road and Kalar Road in Niagara Falls in response to the break and enters. The suspects had targeted multiple Tim Hortons.
The officer observed three males acting suspiciously in a black Chevrolet Malibu near a closed Tim Hortons. The officer stopped the vehicle. The males in the Chevrolet matched descriptions from a previous break and enter that had occurred earlier in the evening. Evidence of the previous break and enter was visible in the vehicle.
The three males were arrested at the scene.
John Michael Lenik (59 years) of Fenwick has been arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:
Attempt to Commit Indictable Offence, contrary to section 463(b) of the CC Break and Enter and Commit non dwelling, contrary to section 348(1)(b) of the CC (5 Counts) Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 section 355(b) CC
Kevin Michael Boutilier (42 years) of Niagara Falls has been arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:
Attempt to Commit Indictable Offence, contrary to section 463(b) of the CC Break and Enter and Commit non dwelling, contrary to section 348(1)(b) of the CC (5 Counts) Possession of Property Obtained by Crime under $5000 section 355(b) CC
Lenik and Boutilier have also been charged in relation to a break and enter to a Welland Petro Canada where a stolen pick-up truck was used to rip an ATM from the convenience store area (charges included above).
Franco Lascala (52 years) of St. Catharines has been arrested and charged with the criminal offences of:
Attempt to Commit Indictable Offence, contrary to section 463(b) of the CC Break and Enter and Commit non dwelling, contrary to section 348(1)(b) of the CC
Lascala was released on a Form 10 Undertaking with a future court date. Lenik and Boutilier were both held in custody for a video bail hearing that they attended on January 30, 2022. They were both kept in custody.
Anyone who may have information about these incidents is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, 1022200.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
Click Here For Crime Stoppers Online
2022-9539