‘We got him,’ Uncle Sal’s owner says suspect in break-in now facing nearly 90 charges

The suspect accused of breaking into a Scarborough restaurant and chicken shop last week is now facing nearly 90 charges, according to the restaurant’s owner. 

Obaid Ullah, owner of Uncle Sal’s Hot Chicken, shared the update on social media days after his restaurant was targeted in an overnight break-and-enter that left him with a smashed door and about $500 stolen from the store’s till. 

“We got him, guys,” Ullah said in a video posted online, thanking Toronto police and local Coun. Michael Thompson for their support. “The guy who broke into our store has been charged with almost 90 charges.”

@unclesalshotchicken Couldn't have asked for a better ending. All details available on the public CP24 News Article. 📍1960 Lawrence Ave East #food #toronto ♬ original sound – Uncle Sal's Hot Chicken

However, Ullah told Now Toronto on Thursday that the information didn’t come directly from Toronto police. 

“Toronto police never officially communicated it directly,” Ullah said, adding he instead learned about the charges through a news report and later confirmed it was the same suspect with the help of a local councillor.

Despite the lack of direct communication, Ullah said the update brought some peace of mind. 

“I think there’s a big sigh of relief… when the community gets together and when people pay attention, there are consequences and people will be held responsible,” he said. “At least somebody was identified as the person behind this.” 

The update comes after Ullah previously told Now Toronto the suspect appeared experienced. At the time, he also learned from the police that the same individual was allegedly linked to a string of similar robberies across Scarborough. 

While this update offers some closure, Ullah said it hasn’t entirely erased concerns.

“I think it brings a little bit of a sense of closure, but at the same time… there is a little bit of a sense of lingering,” he said, pointing to recent incidents across the GTA that have left many business owners on edge. “There’s a hyper awareness of the crime, but at the same time, there’s a little bit of sense of relief that people are being caught.”

Ullah also addressed the wave of online reactions that followed his initial post, including racist and harmful comments.

“People are so easy to talk negatively without having any sense of understanding,” he said. “But the positivity is also out there… the community really came out strong, supporting one another and shutting it down together.”

He added that while the hateful comments were upsetting, they were outweighed by support from the community.

According to Ullah, the suspect was identified within days after police reviewed security footage from the plaza, which he says is equipped with extensive camera coverage. He believes the quick turnaround shows what’s possible when resources are prioritized.

“Within 48 hours, the person was apprehended,” he said. “Our police forces are very capable of finding people… hopefully, more people are brought to justice accordingly.”

Still, Ullah says safety remains a growing concern for small businesses.

“Without a doubt, crime is going up,” he said. “A lot of business owners are being extra wary and taking extra precautions.”

Since the break-in, Ullah says his team has reinforced security measures and retrained staff on how to respond in emergency situations, with a focus on keeping employees safe.

“At the end of the day, our number one priority is making sure that our staff is safe,” he said.

Despite everything, Ullah says his message to the community remains the same: stay vigilant and support one another.