On Friday, June 26, 2026, detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 3 District (Welland/Pelham) Street Crime Unit (SCU) began an investigation into a break and enter that occurred at a business on River Road in the City of Welland.
Two suspects forced entry into the business at approximately 12:00 AM and stole a large quantity of cigarettes and lottery tickets. The suspects then fled the scene in a red Ford Escape.
With assistance from the Hamilton Police Service, detectives were able to identify one of the involved suspects, and a judicial search warrant was granted for a residence on Limeridge Road East in Hamilton. The suspect was arrested without incident.
A second suspect was identified, and a second judicial search warrant was granted for a residence on Hunt Crescent in Burlington. On September 2, 2026, a second suspect was arrested.
41-year-old Nicholas BILBIJIA of Burlington is charged with the following criminal offences:
- Break and Enter – Commit
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order
45-year-old Brooke BYRAM of Hamilton is charged with the following criminal offences:
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
BILBIJIA attended a bail hearing on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St Catharines. BYRAM was release on a Form 10 Undertaking with a future court date.
This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at (905) 688-4111, option 3, extension 1009725.
Members of the community who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477(TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
NRPS Incident #26-87867, 26-78061
