A 37-year-old man faces 78 criminal charges after allegedly performing 32 break-ins at businesses in Waterloo Region.
Waterloo Regional Police say Richard Haddock was arrested last week, initially in connection with six break-and-enters.
“Detectives were able to link Mr. Haddock to the other allegations and break-and-enters,” Staff Sgt. Michael Haffner said Thursday.
Police claim that Haddock’s break-in spree stretched from Oct. 28 to Dec. 9, and that he got into the businesses by smashing their windows or doors.
Affected businesses were typically in small plazas, and most of the break-ins occurred during the overnight hours.
The 32 businesses reported losses totalling more than $10,000, and damage that cost more than $40,000 to repair.
One of those businesses was a Fairway Road hair salon owned by Eva Gomez.
She says her business was hit twice in a three-week span.
Although Haddock has only been linked to one of those break-ins, she said Thursday that she was glad to hear of his arrest.
“I can sleep OK now. I don’t have to worry about somebody calling me to tell me ‘Your business (was broken into),’” she said.
Haddock remains in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for next week.
