Assault weapons found in van outside O’Connor area home
Residents living in O’Connor Village are dealing with shock and confusion after a cache of guns was found outside one of their neighbour’s homes.
Twenty assault rifles, including a semi-automatic Thompson sub-machine gun, were found outside 67 Blair St. in a parked van that, according to a next door neighbour, looked as if it hadn’t been moved in weeks.
“There was a lot of snow on it and around it,” said local resident Cindy Ye. “I think it was there for a long time.”
Police were at the property investigating identity-theft fraud and gun-related charges allegedly involving the 39-year-old owner of the house, Tak Kwong Chan, when they stumbled upon the gun collection.
Residents recalled Chan as a “nice and polite” man who was never around either of the two houses he owned on Blair St. except to check the mail.
“I’ve never even seen or met him,” said Ye.
However, Chan’s other next door neighbour, Vladimir Naumov, said he was the only one on the street who got to know the accused and that as far as he can tell, he was one of the most personable residents on the street.
“He was a very nice and polite guy,” he said. “He came to my house for tea once and we spoke. He didn’t live there but he asked me to keep an eye on his properties and told me that if anything should happen, to call his cellphone.”
Naumov said he hasn’t seen Chan in about six months and has since been collecting his mail for him. He hasn’t noticed anything unusual about the mail his neighbour received but did say some of the letters were addressed to someone by another name.
He said he also tried calling Chan’s cellphone several times but that it is now disconnected.
However, the phone at 67 Blair St. is still connected, and when the Town Crier called the residence, there was a message saying that the mailbox belonging to someone named Elvis was full.
The street is a tiny but busy one as it was constructed as a live-work community. Chan, who also owns 63 Blair St. had once tried to buy Naumov’s house on 65 Blair St., said his neighbour, but he refused.
Since the charges have been laid, the bank has repossessed both properties. 63 Blair St. has already been sold and 67 Blair St. was put on the market days after police found the suspect van.
Originally, Chan told another of his neighbours that he owned both homes because he and his wife were splitting up and that he hadn’t moved in yet because the couple was unsure about which school their children would attend.
“I thought it was a little weird that he bought two houses and he never moved in to either so I’m not completely surprised,” said a local resident who wished to remain anonymous. “But I’m very shocked at what they found.”
Her main concern is for the neighbourhood children — about 60 of them — all of whom love to play outside no matter what the weather.
“This has opened a lot of people’s eyes that it could go on anywhere,” she said. “Just because you think you live in a good neighbourhood doesn’t mean you do. Most people are just afraid that considering what he was (allegedly) involved with, somebody might come looking him.”
Ye is so afraid for her two children that she’s considering moving to another neighbourhood.
“It’s so close, it’s scary,” she said. “Right now we have to stay here but we’re looking to move because it’s not safe here. I don’t think it’s a good community anymore.”