[Drizzt]

Shop owner faces assault charge after burglar beaten
Last Updated Mon, 30 Jun 2003 19:53:00

MONTREAL - A Montreal-area convenience store owner who police say defended his business with an aluminum baseball bat, faces charges of aggravated assault.

Police in Longueuil say the store owner, frustrated at three burglaries in as many weeks, camped out in his store with a friend and a bat Friday night.

At about 3 a.m. Saturday, police say two men entered the store carrying garbage cans. They apparently planned to fill them with cigarettes and cash.

Surprised by the owner, one of the burglars ran away. The other ended up in hospital, having been beaten with blows to the head, chest and legs, said Gaetan Durocher of Longueuil police.

The man is listed in stable condition.

Sid Stevens of Sun Youth, a community organization working to install cameras in stores, says he understands the owner's frustration, but says vigilantism isn't the answer.

"If you use a weapon, chances are very often the thief will use it against you," he said. "I always feel that the price of one's health is worth more than the contents of the till."

The store owner and his friend will be charged with aggravated assault in the next few weeks. Police released them on a promise to appear in court.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/06/30/mtl_vigilante030630

[Orthonym]

:what: :fire: :cuss:

[Preacherman]

Montreal's like one of our terribly, terribly civilized cities (e.g. San Francisco, New York, Boston, etc., etc. ad nauseam... :barf: ) where you really shouldn't do something as nasty and anti-social as defending yourself, much less your property... I much prefer Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and the like, where a robust response is more likely to get you a beer from the locals (and a round of applause from the cops!). If Canada ever tries to unite with the USA, I vote we exclude Quebec, Montreal and parts of Toronto from the deal...

[JackShandy]

So the moral of this story (and many more like it) is to not do anything while allowing others to put you out of business? Gottcha. :scrutiny:

[El Tejon]

So, Mr. Stevens, since weapons are not the answer, we should not call the men with guns (aka, the police) to save us?

[4v50 Gary]

A stern lecture followed with an ice cream cone to the naughty burglar would be preferred by the prosecuting attorney of Montreal.

[nemesis]

There is no justification for this type of violence!

At this rate, criminals will no longer be safe on private property. Other peoples private property. I don't call 911, I dial 1911.

[Standing Wolf]

"If you use a weapon, chances are very often the thief will use it against you," he said.

Tell that to the thief.

[HankB]

Perhaps the thieves were sharing their take with the local, woefully underpaid, constabulary . . . or their political masters?

[Desert Dog]

Yet another place not to visit, and definitely not to live... :barf: