Abliamit Ziiadinov, right, is in custody, and a second suspect, pictured on the right, is at large.
According to local police, criminals from other countries are posing as tourists in Ontario. They commit crimes and then head back home without facing any consequences.
Halton Regional Police suspect that these “crime tourists” are taking advantage of longer nights during the fall and winter months to break into homes. They’ve reported that over $400,000 worth of valuables have been stolen recently, along with significant property damage.
The police believe this activity is linked to organized theft rings from Eastern Europe and Latin America who target wealthy neighborhoods in Ontario for luxury items that can be quickly sold for cash before they leave Canada.
Other law enforcement sources note that if apprehended, these so-called “tourists” often get bail and manage to flee the country without really facing our legal system.
While Halton Police oversee Milton, Oakville, Burlington and Halton Hills, these crimes have also occurred across various communities in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond in Ontario.
“They mobilize in coordinated teams, conduct pre-offence surveillance, exploit natural escape routes such as trail systems, and focus on high-value items that can be quickly liquidated,” said Halton Detective Sergeant Kevin Magee of the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau. “Organized property crime has a significant impact on neighbourhood safety and residents’ sense of security.”
Magee stated that police are dedicated to disrupting the organized groups behind these offenses.
In Halton, Milton has seen the biggest increase in burglaries throughout 2025.
Investigators report that suspects typically enter backyards by jumping fences from trails; they force open rear patio doors and quickly search homes for valuable items like gold and jewelry.
Evidence collected by authorities showed that suspects used e-scooters to navigate through trails swiftly and quietly between neighborhoods before returning to a nearby getaway vehicle identified as a 2021 white Ford Explorer Police Interceptor model.
A single arrest has been made related to the Halton crimes so far while another person remains on the run.
On February 17th, police conducted a raid at a residence in Mississauga where they seized several pieces of jewelry along with trail cameras and electronic surveillance devices.
Abliamit Ziiadinov, 29 years old, has been charged with 26 offenses tied to 13 residential break-ins that took place in Halton between September and December last year. The charges include break-and-enter as well as wearing a disguise with intent to commit a crime.
Ziiadinov is currently being held pending a bail hearing.
A second suspect is still outstanding.
The police have shared images of both the arrested man and the second suspect. They encourage anyone with information to reach out to Halton Police’s 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2416.
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Magee stated that police are dedicated to disrupting the organized groups behind these offenses.
In Halton, Milton has seen the biggest increase in burglaries throughout 2025.
Investigators report that suspects typically enter backyards by jumping fences from trails; they force open rear patio doors and quickly search homes for valuable items like gold and jewelry.
Evidence collected by authorities showed that suspects used e-scooters to navigate through trails swiftly and quietly between neighborhoods before returning to a nearby getaway vehicle identified as a 2021 white Ford Explorer Police Interceptor model.
A single arrest has been made related to the Halton crimes so far while another person remains on the run.
On February 17th, police conducted a raid at a residence in Mississauga where they seized several pieces of jewelry along with trail cameras and electronic surveillance devices.
Abliamit Ziiadinov, 29 years old, has been charged with 26 offenses tied to 13 residential break-ins that took place in Halton between September and December last year. The charges include break-and-enter as well as wearing a disguise with intent to commit a crime.
Ziiadinov is currently being held pending a bail hearing.
A second suspect is still outstanding.
The police have shared images of both the arrested man and the second suspect. They encourage anyone with information to reach out to Halton Police’s 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4747 ext. 2416.
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