A couple from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., fed up with thieves who have targeted their home three times in the past few weeks, have posted a video of the suspects on Facebook.
Nicole and Jean Groulx obtained footage of thieves in action after installing video cameras in their home following a second break-in.
Frustrated with what they said was police inaction, the homeowners decided to post footage of a third robbery online, asking viewers if they recognized the men on camera.
During the first burglary on Dec. 27, the men broke down the front doors and stole a flat screen TV from the living room, along with electronics and another TV from the second floor. The couple was away on vacation.
The Groulxs replaced the TV, but about a week later, thieves entered the home through the same doors, and fled with the newly purchased TV.
“It’s terrible, really, I have a hard time to sleep,” Nicole told CTV Montreal. “I see them all the time.”
The couple, who live in a rural area, said they notified authorities but felt police weren’t doing enough to protect them. That’s when they decided to install alarm and surveillance systems.
They also purchased yet another TV, which they harnessed to the wall with a heavy-duty bracket.
On Jan. 20, the video cameras caught two men breaking into the home yet again. Footage shows the pair heading for the flat-screen, and wrestling with it for almost a minute before the TV finally comes off the wall.
This time, the Groulxs say the police were more responsive. Still, they decided to post the video online.
“If you … do nothing, nothing will happen,” Nicole said. “You have to do something.”
The video has yielded a couple of leads, and the Groulxs have passed on the information to police.
Police say they have stepped up patrols in the area in the last few weeks.
Anyone with information about the thieves is asked to contact Beloeil police at 450-536-3334.
With a report from CTV Montreal’s Cindy Sherwin