Nighttime Ram-Raid: Theft on Cyrville Road

Early on the morning of August 27, what initially appeared to be an ordinary traffic accident in Ottawa’s east end turned out to be a brazen robbery. A U-Haul truck was used as a battering ram against Triole Small Engine Sales & Service, located at 1460 Cyrville Road.

The store’s security alarm was triggered at approximately 4:15 a.m. Surveillance footage from the business and a neighbouring property reportedly showed the truck reversing into the exterior wall three times before finally creating a large opening. The intruders then entered the premises and stole two used lawnmowers with a combined value of approximately $400. Meanwhile, management estimates that the damage to the building will cost thousands of dollars to repair. Ottawa police continue to investigate, and no arrests have been announced.

A Meridian Press correspondent personally visited the damaged building. The enormous hole in the brick wall, the scattered debris and workers covering the façade with wooden panels made a disturbing impression. It was especially difficult to believe that so much destruction had apparently been caused for the sake of two relatively inexpensive lawnmowers.

Triole is a family-owned local business that has sold and repaired outdoor power equipment for many years. For a small company, a crime like this means more than the cost of rebuilding a wall. It also disrupts operations, inconveniences customers and places additional stress on employees.

This incident illustrates how dramatically the consequences of a crime can outweigh the value of the stolen property. A nighttime raid lasting only a few minutes left behind a demolished wall and what could become weeks of repairs.