Two high-profile break-and-enters in Niagara-on-the-Lake during the holiday season have brought crime into the spotlight for the sleepy rural town — two cases among the 36 of which Niagara Regional Police say the town was a victim last year.
Of these 36 cases reported to Niagara police, six of them have seen charges laid, while 13 remain under investigation and 17 were closed due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
While the two holiday incidents may have some NOTLers wondering if they may be next on the list of targets, Niagara police is urging the public to remain calm.
The two notable cases involve a break-in from November, in which an unidentified suspect on an all-terrain vehicle broke into a Niagara College facility on Concession 5 and stole wine, and the break-in of a home on Wall and Four Mile Creek roads on Dec. 19, in which the suspect sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl.
“Obviously, I think it’s sad and disturbing,” said Holmes Hooke, a resident living in Chautauqua who noted car break-ins in his neighbourhood as well as a relative lack of police presence in the town.
“People are concerned. They’re locking their doors at night more and during the day too.”
Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa issued a statement following the December incident, which he called “deeply troubling.”
“Safety, in our homes, on our streets and in our community, is a shared priority,” he said.
That case led to the arrest of a suspect four days later, 33-year-old Nicholas Morinello of Niagara Falls, who was charged with breaking and entering and sexual assault.
An official with the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines told The Lake Report that Morinello was granted bail and is due in court next on Jan. 26.
Niagara Regional Police say 36 break and enters were reported in NOTL in 2025, compared to 23 in 2024 and 35 in 2023. They said three of the 2025 incidents occurred at 176 Wellington St.
Royal Oak School principal Julia Murray, whose school is at that address, said she knew of two there were two incidents of windows broken in downstairs, an unoccupied part of the school’s building, one in the fall and one in December. There were no incidents at the school itself, she said.
She declined to comment on break-and-enters in NOTL as a whole.
Niagara police spokesperson Const. Richard Hingley said people typically do report break-and-enters to police, making the figures a reliable reflection of incidents in the community.
Police recorded nine break-and-enters in November, the highest monthly total of the year. No other month exceeded four cases.
Of the 36 cases in 2025, police laid charges in six. Thirteen remain under investigation, while 17 were closed due to insufficient evidence. Police did not release information on the total value of stolen property.
Some residents say the incidents have prompted them to take additional precautions.
“With a young son,” said Tania Ganassini, “my husband and I have been looking into hardening the home, which was something I wasn’t familiar with until this happened actually.”
She said the family plans to increase exterior lighting and add more locks.
Others point to broader factors. Paul McManis said the rising cost of living and inequality may be contributing to the problem, causing more crime.
“Things are getting so expensive,” he said. “The divide is getting larger and larger.”
Hingley said police have not identified any specific area of town being targeted and stressed there is no reason for alarm.
“Residents should not live in fear,” he said. “Probably the best investment a homeowner can make is in good quality video to assist with identification of individuals.”
Hingley said police use a range of investigative tools in break-and-enter cases, including canvassing, video review and fingerprint and DNA collection.
Some residents who spoke with The Lake Report said despite these high-profile cases, they still feel safe in their communities.
“I haven’t experienced it. I don’t know anyone who has,” said Judy McLeod. “It still feels like a pretty safe place to me.”
