Three people have been arrested after 20 commercial break-ins across much of Eastern Ontario, including in the Quinte West area.
Ontario Provincial Police say the break-ins began in July of this year and continued into September.
They say the thieves would primarily target convenience stores which had closed for the night.
It is alleged that the culprits would force their way inside and then take cigarettes and lottery tickets.
Locations include:
- Ottawa – three
- Kingston – five
- Brockville – two
- Cornwall – two
- Leeds, Grenville, Russell County, Lennox and Addington, Quinte West OPP areas – eight
As a result of an investigation by the Community Street Crime Unit, in collaboration with Kingston police, Brockville Police Service, Cornwall Police Services and Ottawa Police Service, as well as multiple OPP detachments, arrest warrants were issued in late October 2025 for three people.
Police say the individuals were already in custody in another jurisdiction.
On December 16, 2025, the males were transferred to eastern Ontario and were formally arrested and charged.
Charged included:
Twenty-seven-year-old Karoly Csombok of Etobicoke with:
- Break and enter – 20 counts
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence – 18 counts
- Possession of break-in tools – 20 counts
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Theft over $5000 – 12 counts
- Theft of a vehicle – three counts
- Theft under $5000
- Theft under $5000 from a vehicle
- Trafficking in stolen goods over $5000 – three counts
- Disguise with intent – 20 counts
- Mischief under $5000 – 16 counts
- Failure to comply with a release order – 11 counts
Twenty-eight-year-old Ferenc Kiss of Brampton with
- Break and enter – 19 counts
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence – 20 counts
- Possession of break-in tools – 19 counts
- Possession of property obtained by c rime over $5000
- Theft over $5000 – 11 counts
- Theft of a vehicle – three counts
- Theft under $5000
- Theft under $5000 from a vehicle
- Trafficking in stolen goods over $5000 – three counts
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Disguise with intent – 19 counts
- Mischief under $5000 – 16 counts
- Failure to comply with a release order – 14 counts
Twenty-year-old Norbert Szeles of Toronto with:
- Break and enter – 17 counts
- Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence – 17 counts
- Possession of break-in tools – 15 counts
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Theft over $5000 – 9 counts
- Theft of a vehicle – 3 counts
- Theft under $5000
- Theft under $5000 from a vehicle
- Trafficking in stolen goods over $5000 – 3 counts
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
- Disguise with intent – 16 counts
- Mischief under $5000 – 13 counts
- Failure to comply with a release order – 15 counts
The three accused remain in custody.
