Vehicle crashes into Orléans business

A business owner in Orléans says items were stolen from his store after a car was driven into it. CTV’s Josh Marano reports.

Ottawa police are investigating a brazen smash-and-grab at an Orléans business that the store owner says included an SUV smashing into the front of the store and several items stolen.

Photos showed a Honda vehicle had smashed through the front window and door of International Mobile Services on Innes Road early Thursday morning.

In a post on Facebook, the International Mobile Services said the vehicle was used to crash into the business and someone stole items from the store.

Owner Nicholas Chaar tells CTV News Ottawa he was contacted around 4 a.m. Thursday by police, informing him a car was inside the store.

“We came over, and it was a Honda CRV running inside the store with no one in it,” Chaar said on Friday.

“The store had some items removed and we found some sledgehammers that they had used while they were in here.”

Chaar said police told him it was a “revolving door” incident.

“They’re in, they’re out there and they’re out. What’s the use of having anything in the front? Just leave the door unlocked. Let them come in whenever they want, because now insurance kind of skyrockets on us again.”

On Thursday, crews were on the scene repairing the front of the business.

Chaar said he installed a $4,000 cage that closes the front end of the store after the front door and units inside the store were smashed a few years ago.

“We thought that was safe,” Chaar said. “After having the cage, there was no way people can just break in and walk in.”

There were no injuries.

“I’ve been in business for over 20 years. We all have families, we all have bills to pay,” Chaar said.

“It is just ridiculous that everybody wants what you have, but there’s no consequences for them.”

The Ottawa Police Service told CTV News Ottawa on Monday that officers responded to a call for a car that had driven into a building.

“The front of a commercial business was damaged and some items were stolen,” police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Break and Enter Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 4533.

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