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Jewish Bakery Burglarized in Canadian Town

In a statement to the Star, police confirmed they responded to a call for a break and enter that occurred “in the early morning hour” at a bakery near Bathurst Street and Ranee Avenue. 

Police added officers “are still investigating.”

In a story posted to Instagram on Wednesday morning, the bagel shop confirmed a break-in occurred overnight. A photo posted with the statement showed the store’s front door with its glass shattered. 

Despite the break-in, Gryfe’s Bagels confirmed it was open Wednesday. 

Gryfe’s is owned and operated by a Jewish family and has been in business for over a century. It’s been called one of two “founding temples of Canadian bagel making,” the other being St-Viateur in Montreal. 

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the city and a rash of suspected hate crimes targeting the local Jewish community. 

“Add it to the rising wave of antisemitism and hate that is flooding our community,” tweeted Liberal MP Marco Mendicino Wednesday afternoon — before police had said the crime did not appear hate-motivated. “Those who are responsible for these crimes should be brought to justice.”

Earlier this month, Toronto police said they were investigating a suspected hate-motivated arson incident at a Jewish-owned deli in North York. Officers said they were called to International Delicatessen Foods on the morning of Jan. 3 after reports of a commercial industrial fire at the store. Video from the scene also showed the words “Free Palestine” tagged on the store front with graffiti. 

Staff Superintendent Pauline Gray later described the incident as a “criminal act” and called on people “to be vigilant.”