Restaurants on Duluth Street in Montreal’s Plateau area are speaking out following a wave of theft and vandalism that they are calling a crime spree. Coco Disco Club, located at 251 Duluth St. East, has 28 seats in its dining room and is run by a couple. A recent break-in and theft at the restaurant, all recorded on their security camera, is costing them $7,000 in damages and stolen goods. “[It’s] like someone broke into your home and stole your hard-working money,” said chef and co-owner Loic Fortin. “It’s happened so many times in such a small amount of time. It’s a city problem, and we are paying the consequences of it, and all we’re asking is just a little bit of help.” His wife and partner, Manu Jonik, says they were planning a “first anniversary party” for the restaurant, but now the robbery has rattled them. “It’s still a pretty vulnerable moment for us,” Jonik said. Au Pied de Cochon is another restaurant on Duluth Street that has been targeted by vandalism and theft. Chef Michael Picard Labelle took to social media to share that he had been robbed. His laptop was later found in the bushes and returned. Meanwhile, not far away on Laurier East, Marc-Antoine Paquin, owner of Noble Cafe, says he was also robbed. “At least to catch the guy and, you know, to have a more responsive police service when this kind of thing happened? It’s not good for the neighbourhoods or good for ourselves. It’s really stressful,” Paquin said. CTV News reached out to borough Mayor Cathy Wong, who declined to comment. Montreal police (SPVM) told CTV News that its investigation is ongoing.
