Sten submachine gun, Bren light machine gun and a Bock bolt-action rifle — were stolen during a break-in at the historic Toronto castle

Patrick Maier-Trevizan of Toronto and Piotr Baczynski of Mississauga are each charged with breaking and entering. Baczynski is also charged with possession of stolen property.19-year-old Mississauga man is one of two people facing charges after three antique guns were stolen from Casa Loma over the weekend.The non-functioning firearms — a Sten submachine gun, Bren light machine gun and a Bock bolt-action rifle — were stolen during a break-in at the historic Toronto castle early Saturday.The weapons, which have since been recovered by police, went missing from a Queen's Own Rifles exhibit on the third floor of Casa Loma at about 2 a.m. Police say two men climbed to the second level of the castle, smashed a window and climbed into the building. Once inside, the duo smashed a glass display case of decommissioned firearms and military artifacts. Police say the men removed firearms and other property from the building and concealed the items among bushes, then fled the area. One of the men later returned to the scene and took the stolen property.
Toronto Police Det. Colin Greenaway said the thieves apparently buried the guns in Mississauga after realizing that it had been "an error in judgement" to take them.
Police located the weapons Monday and arrested two men.
Piotr Baczynski, of Mississauga, and Patrick Maier-Trevizan, 19, of Toronto, are each charged with break-and-enter to commit an indictable offence. Baczynski is also charged with possession of property obtained by crime.Three days after Casa Loma was robbed of artifacts from the Second World War, Toronto police say they have arrested two suspects. Det. Colin Greenaway from 13 Division told reporters Tuesday that police had recovered three weapons that were stolen from the popular tourist destination.Casa Loma was robbed sometime between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Saturday morning after at least two suspects used a construction scaffolding outside the castle to access a second-storey window. The window was smashed and the suspects were able to access artifacts from the Queen's Own Rifle exhibit. A helmet as well as three weapons -- a Bock bolt-action rifle, a Sten submachine gun and a Bren light machine gun -- were stolen from the exhibit. "The weapons had been professionally decomissioned and therefore could not operate as firearms," Greenaway said.Greenaway said the stolen artifacts were hidden in some bushes before the suspects fled the scene. He said a suspect later returned to the scene and recovered the stolen property.The suspects may have been drinking before heading to Casa Loma, said the detective.Police told CTV.ca on Sunday that they followed a one-kilometre trail of blood from the castle, down the scaffolding, north along Spadina Road until St. Clair Avenue West. A significant amount of blood was found meaning a suspect, or suspects, probably suffered a serious injury, said Det. Const. Bryan Campbell. It is not believed the suspects were involved in an altercation.
Campbell said detectives were investigating whether the exhibit was targeted by the thieves.Two 19-year-old men are facing charges.

Posted in: Toronto