These burglars picked the wrong house

Three men arrested after attempting to rob local alarm company headโ€™s home

Some would-be burglars made the opposite of a cool getaway when they failed to break into the Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road area home of Joel Matlin, president of AlarmForce Industries Inc. Using evidence gathered by the same home security system his company sells, Matlin assisted in the arrest of three men in connection with the attempted break-in. They were also charged with nine break and enters around the Greater Toronto Area.

While he was away in Florida, Matlin said, he was notified via smartphone that someone was at the front door of his local home. He didn’t recognize the person, so he notified police and forwarded them three images that the video relay system had captured. He then called his stepson Robbie, who went by to investigate, and then stayed the night at the residence. Robbie was awoken after 4 a.m. when the security system announced the phone line had been cut. Two suspects were at the door, attempting to kick it in. In total, five suspects surrounded the house. The suspects fled when Robbie turned on the lights and made noise.

“It puts me in the situation of our subscribers and it allows me to know the feeling of vulnerability,” Matlin said of the experience. “The other great thing is to know that three out of the five of the guys have been apprehended.”

Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO