A spree of break-ins have plagued some business owners in Newmarket, leaving many concerned about the frequency of incidents in their area.
Ippon Ramen, located in Newmarket Plaza at 130 Davis Dr., was broken into on Sunday, July 28. The front glass door was smashed and hundreds of dollars were stolen.
“Finally, it’s our turn.., " said Jacqueline He, co-owner, with a sigh. “That was the first thing on my mind when I saw my door.”
The restaurant, which offers a bone broth-based soup and noodle dish, opened two years ago. She said that after previous break-ins in town, management started taking home some of the iPads and any large quantities of cash.
They, however, left a few bills in a till for the opening shift and hid any remaining electronic devices. The day before the break-in, however, she forgot to hide one of the electronic devices and was surprised that it was not stolen.
“They didn’t take the iPad,” said He. “It is right on the counter. Saturday night was very busy and I forgot to put it in the drawer. I placed it near a menu and it is still there. Maybe they didn’t see it because it is very dark.”
She said customers arrived at her restaurant to dine in, but they waited in their cars for her staff to clean up the broken shards and glass. Her restaurant typically opens at 11 a.m. but they opened at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
“The world is crazy right now,” said He. “Nobody has money, so crazy things happen. I hope the economy will get better.”
She contacted York Regional Police and filed a report. She sent them surveillance video, and officers came to investigate.
“Officers were notified about a commercial break and enter in the area of Davis Drive and Parkside Drive on July 28, shortly after 11 a.m.,” said Const. James Dickson. “The business was broken into overnight, through the front door.”
According to YRP's community safety data portal, there have been two commercial break and enters in Newmarket last week, and four the previous week.
There was a commercial break-and-enter on Davis Drive July 21 at about 4:30 a.m. and another break-and-enter at a business June 5 at about 2:52 a.m.
The break-in at Ippon occurred a month after a break and enter at Zucca's Ristorante and Pizzeria in the same plaza.
“I was shocked but not surprised,” said Lisa Culnan, a server at the restaurant. “I was shocked but considering what we see here on a daily basis, I wasn’t really surprised.”
Culnan said she watched the break-in at the restaurant on its surveillance camera. She said the suspect entered through the front door and smashed the glass with what seemed to be a hammer or hatchet.
“We saw them running around looking for money,” said Culnan. “We don’t keep money here. They went through the back of the kitchen then went out to the front of the restaurant, grabbed two bottles of wine, and then went out the back door.”
Police said they have yet to determine if the break-ins at the plaza are connected.
“Investigators believe that there were at least two suspects involved and police are appealing for any witnesses that may have any additional information,” said Dickson. “While there have been other break and enters that have occurred previously in the area, investigators are still working to determine if this incident is isolated or if it's linked to any other incidents.”
India Gate, beside Ippon Ramen, was broken into January of last year. They said the incident happened overnight at about 1 to 2 a.m.
“I came to the restaurant at 7 o'clock because I had to drop my son off at school and I came here to pick up paper,” said owner Abhishek Sharma. “The cash register was broken.”
Sharma discovered some cash was stolen, along with bottles of alcohol and an iPad. He added police came to investigate.
“This is the first time it happened in 18 years,” said Sharma. “We have been here for 18 years.”
He installed more cameras after the incident.
“Honestly, I hear a lot of things are happening in Aurora and Newmarket,” said Sharma. “I’m afraid every day. Every day I go home, and the next morning, I don’t know what happens. I check my cameras overnight (to see) if something is happening.”
He said his employee are concerned, too, that somebody could break in while they are at the restaurant. He told them that if the restaurant is robbed again, they should hand over what they have and go home.
“They are my main concern,” said Sharma. “If somebody stops in, and enters, don’t stop them, don’t fight. Life is more important than anything else. We close at 9:30 p.m. and I can’t leave my son alone here while he is working.”
Culnan said the suspects are brazen for breaking into businesses in the plaza.
“I’m not blaming anybody on this, but a few people that work in the plaza and a bunch of us feel that because a methadone clinic went up in the doctor’s offices upstairs, things have been getting worse,” said Culnan. “We have people pooping on the sidewalk in front of the dollar store, we have people coming into our restaurant and using our bathroom for drugs. I understand people need addiction help, but at the same time, they are desperate.”
Other businesses in the plaza reportedly also victims of break-ins did not wish to comment.
Another restaurant in another Newmarket location was broken into in a similar manner last week.
Big Bone BBQ and Wicked Wings on Eagle Street was burglarized July 23. The glass door was smashed and a cash register was pried open.
“I feel terrible,” said Lee Rombos, owner. “I feel we have to take up our security a little bit better.”
Police would not confirm the restaurant was robbed, but they did say they were in the area early in the morning that day.
“On July 23 at around 6 a.m. we responded to a commercial break and enter the area of Eagle Street and Scott Avenue,” said Dickson.
“It was reported that sometime overnight an unknown amount of suspects entered through the front door,” said Dickson. “The investigation is ongoing. At this time it is unknown how many suspects were involved or what was taken.”
Rombos has surveillance cameras. He also spoke to neighbouring establishments in the plaza to assist police with an investigation. He said the restaurant has never been broken into, in their 15 years in Newmarket, and they have a good rapport with the community.
“We have been a big part of the community with a lot of charities, great customers, and in a great neighbourhood,” said Rombos.
Police confirmed the front door was broken into but were unable to say how many suspects entered the restaurant.
“It’s part of owning your own business but it is not a part that you think would happen,” said Rombos.
