Two men are facing charges for a break-and-enter spree that targeted mostly small Asian-owned businesses and restaurants in the early morning hours, according to Toronto police.
Police said 32 burglaries took place near Finch and Midland avenues in Scarborough between Oct. 7 and Dec. 19, usually between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.
Of those, seven occurred in a strip mall at the intersection.
In all, more than $27,000 in cash and $7,000 worth of alcohol were stolen during the rash of break-ins, police said, in addition to thousands of dollars in damage to the businesses.
At a news conference Thursday morning, detectives said the suspects targeted businesses that were vulnerable because they were equipped with few security measures.
Police said the suspects entered businesses by using prybars to open rear doors, so the investigation was dubbed Project Prybar.
Two suspects were arrested during a break-in at a restaurant last Saturday.
Said Hassan, 19, and Blake Langford, 21, are charged with a total of 32 offences, police said.
With files from CP24's Katie Simpson
