Police continue to look for suspect(s) in Brockville area food truck theft
Sam & Harry’s ChipWagon in Brockville has experienced a string of persistent break-ins over the last few years.
The business announced on Facebook on Friday, Aug. 23 that their mobile restaurant had been broken into for the third time. They were pleading with those in the community to reach out to them if they had any information on the incident.
Sam & Harry’s, located at 1846 County Road 2 East, first had someone break into their chip wagon in 2022. Owner Raju Arenja told Brockvilleist he suspects it is the same person(s) targeting his business because the crime has consistently occurred in August for three years in a row.
When reached for comment, Joey Mason, media relations officer with the Leeds County OPP, confirmed that the department is investigating the recent break-and-enter of the restaurant.
“ I can’t speak to whether this was targeted at this time, however, this was not the first time the business was a victim of a crime,” Mason said.
Arenja said he immediately knew the chip wagon had been tampered with again when he saw their locks had been cut through and a noticeable amount of food was missing. With little to no money being left in the restaurant overnight, the suspect has been resorting to stealing food.
“It’s similar to stealing money because everything we’re buying comes from money,” he said.
When asked what steps they’re taking to prevent another break-in, Arenja shared that they have invested in more locks, new chains, and even put up more cameras but his frustration at the situation was palpable. “I hope it helps but if you want to steal something, you’ll steal it and not worry about the cameras.”
Officer Mason confirmed, “At this time, no suspects have been identified. However, we have requested Grenville OPP and Brockville Police Service to be on the lookout.”
If you have any information or video footage regarding this incident that could be helpful to the investigation, please contact the Leeds County OPP at 613-345-1790