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Man charged in relation to 13 downtown break & enters

November 20, 2020   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Baker

Dufferin OPP has nabbed the individual believed to be responsible for the slew of downtown business break-ins in Orangeville in recent months. 

On Saturday (Nov. 14), shortly after 11 p.m., police arrested 37-year-old Christopher Hann in relation to the incidents, which began in late September. Over the past couple of months, a total of 13 businesses have experienced break and enters, with Dufferin OPP informing media that they all appear to have been executed in a similar manner. 

Members of the local OPP force worked alongside their colleagues from the Nottawasaga Community Street Crime Unit on the case. Mr. Hann was seen walking down First St. on Saturday evening when police arrested him without incident. 

The most recent break-in occurred last weekend, at Le Finis on Broadway. Many other Broadway-based businesses have also been targeted over the past two months. 

Mr. Hann, of no fixed address, has been charged with 13 counts of break and entering, and theft under $5,000. He was held in custody for a bail hearing and will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville this week. 

In a post to social media on Tuesday (Nov. 17), Orangeville Coun. Todd Taylor expressed his anger at the way the accused took advantage of some people and businesses in our area in such an “invasive and personal way”. 

“The break and enters of our Orangeville businesses over the past few months created great stress and financial strain for the local owners. Some in our community want to view the court proceedings,” Coun. Taylor stated. “For the foreseeable future there are no in-person bail hearings. They will occur on Zoom, or other video/audio links. At this point, it is anticipated that the accused trial… will be held sometime in the next 12 months.”

He added, “The community will be seeking restitution, and a police officer will be out to see those affected in the near term to collect victim impact statements, which will be considered at sentencing.”


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