ST. CATHARINES, ON – After a two-day search, Niagara Regional Police arrested a man wanted in connection with the theft of six firearms during a break and enter in St. Catharines.
Police were initially called to a commercial break-in on Geneva Street near Ted Street, where they discovered that a male suspect had broken into a business and stolen several items, including six guns from a secured gun cabinet. The empty cabinet was later found nearby.
David Venketeswaran, 54, of St. Catharines, was first arrested and charged with:
Possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000
Possession of stolen firearms
Investigators then issued a public appeal to locate a second suspect, Pavel Braoun, 35, also of St. Catharines.
On Tuesday, Braoun was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges, including:
Break and enter
Theft-related offenses
Possession of a firearm contrary to a probation order
Failure to comply with probation
Despite the arrests, the stolen weapons — three handguns and three long guns — have not yet been recovered, and police continue to investigate.
Anyone with information about the missing firearms or this case is urged to contact Niagara Regional Police.
