A series of robberies in cell phone shops has the telecom industry worried, as it encourages consumers to only buy devices sold by reliable and reputable sources.
Over the past few days, cell phone shops have been targeted by armed robberies in several cities in Quebec, particularly in the metropolitan area, but also elsewhere such as in Gatineau, where a theft was committed on Sunday. In some cases there have been arrests.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) confirmed “having identified several thefts of this type in recent weeks”, without being able to give precise figures.
Last April, in a phone store on rue Fleury Est, in the Ahuntsic sector, thieves fled with 80 cell phones whose value is estimated at around $100,000.
Called to respond, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) reminded that it is important to check the unique identification number of the device, known as the IMEI number, at www.devicecheck.ca.
This tool makes it possible in particular to ensure that the telephone purchased online or from a friend has not been stolen or declared lost.
“We know that criminals hope to profit from these crimes by selling stolen devices to unsuspecting individuals,” said organization spokesperson Nicholas Kyonka, who acts as the industry’s spokesperson to governments. and various regulatory bodies.
On the side of Videotron, a subsidiary of Quebecor which was also targeted by robberies, it was said to have put in place additional security measures in the stores. “The situation is being taken very seriously,” it said.
At TELUS, spokeswoman Jacinthe Beaulieu said the company was cooperating with the police in the ongoing investigations. “We also flag stolen phones so that they end up on a blacklist, which prevents them from being used on wireless networks,” she added.
A TELUS store was robbed last April in Montreal.
Last Tuesday, there were two armed robberies in stores in the Pointe-aux-Trembles sector, in Montreal, as well as 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 do not exclude the possibility of a link between the robberies. “[It] seems 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 related to 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 via the reporting form available on the infocrimemontreal.ca website.
– With the collaboration of Jessica Potsou, QMI Agency
