A spate of cell phone store robberies is worrying the telecom industry as it encourages consumers to only buy devices from reliable and reputable sources.
In recent days, mobile phone shops have been the target of armed robberies in several Quebec cities, particularly in the greater metropolitan area, but also elsewhere, such as in Gatineau, where a theft was committed on Sunday. Arrests have been made in some cases.
The Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) confirmed that “several thefts of this type have been identified in recent weeks” without being able to give exact figures.
Last April, thieves escaped from a phone shop on rue Fleury Est in the Ahuntsic sector with 80 mobile phones estimated to be worth around $100,000.
The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) called for attention to the importance of checking the device’s unique identification number, known as the IMEI number, at www.devicecheck.ca.
In particular, this tool can be used to ensure that the phone purchased online or from a friend has not been stolen or reported lost.
“We know criminals hope to profit from these crimes by selling stolen devices to unsuspecting individuals,” said organization spokesman Nicholas Kyonka, who serves as the industry spokesman to governments and various regulators.
Videotron, a subsidiary of Quebecor that was also the target of robberies, is said to have taken additional security measures in the shops. “The situation is being taken very seriously,” it said.
TELUS spokeswoman Jacinthe Beaulieu said the company was working with the police on the ongoing investigation. “We also flag stolen phones so they end up on a blacklist that prevents them from being used on wireless networks,” she added.
Last April, a TELUS store was robbed in Montreal.
Last Tuesday there were two armed raids on shops in the Pointe-aux-Trembles sector of Montreal and in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Last Thursday it was the turn of a store in Longueuil to be targeted.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) and the Gatineau Police Department are not ruling out the possibility of a connection between the robberies. “[Ça] appears to be connected to a network with the same modus operandi,” said the Service de Police de la Ville de Gatineau (SPVG).
Anyone with information about an event of this nature can contact 911 or their neighborhood station. It is also possible to communicate anonymously and confidentially with Info-Crime Montréal at 514.393-1133 or through the report form on the infocrimemontreal.ca website.
– In collaboration with Jessica Potsou, QMI Agency