By Katy Burley
BELLEVILLE – The four men who broke into a Loyalist College residence last night, possibly armed, are still at large, Belleville Police say.
The force’s emergency-response team, the OPP Eastern Ontario tactical-response unit and the OPP canine unit were dispatched to search the area around Loyalist after the intruders fled the residence building on foot. Deputy Chief Paul Vandegraaf said the search resulted in some of the property stolen from students during the invasion – mostly electronic equipment – being recovered. Police are doing forensic work on the items, he said.
The police issued a release shortly before 9 a.m. today saying they were called to Loyalist at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday, responding to what was reported as a possible robbery.
Four men entered the building wearing dark clothing and disguises and robbed several occupants of their property, the statement said. The men are believed to have been carrying firearms, they said.
Vandegraaf told QNet News this morning he could not confirm widely circulated reports that the intruders were the same men who had been asked to leave a residence party last week.
Police have issued detailed descriptions of two of the men. One is described as 18 to 25 years old, white, 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches tall, wearing an unzipped black hooded sweatshirt with a red shirt underneath and blue jeans. He has a slim build and a distinctive low voice.
Another man has been described as 18 to 25 years old, white, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a white shirt underneath and jeans. He is approximately 6 feet 3 inches to 6 feet 5 inches tall, with a stocky build.
The other two suspects are described as male and wearing similar black hooded sweatshirts and blue jeans.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det.-Const. Aaron Bucci of the Belleville Police at (613) 966-0882, extension 2314, or Crime Stoppers at (613) 969-8477 or quintecrimestoppers.ca [1].