

Chris Herhalt, CP24.com





A dozen Chilean men face close to 100 charges combined in connection with a series of break-and-enters that occurred at businesses in the GTA in early 2015.

Toronto police allege a group of men broke into various pawn shops, jewelry stores and other businesses across the GTA, carrying assorted break-in tools and often using disguises.

The group allegedly took cash and pieces of jewelry, and sometimes removed whole security safes when they encountered difficulty opening them.

Each of the suspects is from Chile, and police allege the men entered Canada from the United States using false ID.

On June 16, officers from Toronto police 13 Division raided several locations across Toronto, locating Canadian and U.S. cash, power tools, and a large amount of jewelry. Four men were taken in to custody that day.

On Aug. 20, a fifth suspect was arrested while boarding a flight from Toronto to Montreal. Authorities found $25,000 and stolen items on his person.

On Sept. 22, police executed six more search warrants in the city, this time finding a kilogram of marijuana and pieces of fake ID in addition to jewelry and cash.

Seven men were taken in to custody during those raids. They each appeared in court at 1000 Finch Ave. W. on Wednesday.

The 12 suspects in custody face a combined total of 97 charges, ranging from possession of stolen goods, carrying burglary tools and break-and-enter, to mischief and conspiracy.

Another three suspects are still outstanding.

Canada-wide arrest warrants have been issued for Carlos Fernando Orellana Pizarro, 45, Ricardo Javier Parada Neira, 26, and Daniel Elias Morales Elgueta, 39. They are believed to be back in Chile.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1300, or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).