London business owner facing daily struggle with homeless

London police say they arrested two people after several cars caught fire at a downtown business. CTV's Brent Lale spoke with the business owner.

London business owner Elyas Somano is facing a $16,000 loss after four vehicles caught fire in the parking lot of his midtown neighbourhood dealership.

“That’s a crazy phone call. You know what I’m saying? In the middle of the night there is a fire, and you don’t know which car is blowing,” said Somano.

Surveillance video at the back of his business at the corner of York Street and Maitland Street shows multiple people leaving the scene while the vehicles were on fire.

London police arrived and found a female telling officers a man was still inside the car.

“Officers located and removed a man from the burning vehicle,” said Const. Matt Dawson of the London Police Service (LPS). “Both the man and the woman were arrested at the scene. A 44-year-old female and a 33-year-old male, both of London, have been jointly charged with one count of arson causing damage to property.”

Located directly across from the Men’s Mission, Somano said he faces a daily struggle with the homeless population. It’s been difficult in this location as owner since 1998.

While CTV was on site, two people were sleeping in a red pickup truck in the lot. He leaves the vehicle there instead of taking it to the junkyard, because he believes they will just sleep in a nicer car if he moves it.

He rarely locks the doors to his used cars, because he’s had multiple windows broken to gain entry.

“They start breaking vehicles,” said Somano. “I’m not here 24/7 because I’m home. As soon as I talk to them bad or try to kick them out, they can start breaking vehicles.”

In August 2022, his mechanic made a gruesome discovery.

A homeless person died inside one of his cars.

Somano told CTV News police said Tuesday morning they will try to keep an eye on the property.

“That is good news,” said Somano.

He just wishes there would be more punishment for offenders other than catch and release.

“I talked to the officers many times and it looks like there is nothing they can do to those guys,” said Somano. “If we speed up, we get a ticket. You know what I’m saying? Those guys, they can do anything they don’t get nothing.”

The investigation has been reassigned to the London Police Street Crime Unit.