On Wednesday morning, two Waterloo stores told CTV News someone broke down their doors and took off with the cash registers.
Later that day, Waterloo Regional Police confirmed they received 18 separate reports of break-ins at businesses in Kitchener, Waterloo and Woolwich.
Police believe the incidents are connected and all happened overnight.
They have also released a photo of a person they are seeking to identify as part of the investigation.
Police are seeking the identification of this individual in connection with a series of overnight burglaries reported on July 6, 2022. (Submitted/Waterloo Regional Police Service)
Boss Supplements in Waterloo was one of the businesses targeted.  Owner Jason Nguyen said he received a burglary call around 2 a.m. Wednesday.
Security cameras at the store on Parkside Drive captured someone throwing something through the door, breaking the window.  The person then ran into the store, grabbed the cash register and ran out.  It was all done in less than a minute.
There was money in the cash register, but no products were taken.  The supplement store also had to close Wednesday to fix the door and clean the glass.
Crews replace a door that was smashed in an early morning robbery in Waterloo on July 6, 2022. (Chris Thomson/CTV Kitchener)
Police also recovered the L-shaped pipe used to break the door.
“[They had a] strong arm, that’s all I have to say,” Nguyen said with a laugh.
About a 10-minute drive away, a BarBurrito in the Laurelwood Commons Plaza was the target of a similar break-in.  The incident also happened in the night.
Owner Atul Rajpoot said the business only opened on June 27.
“It’s only the second week of operation, it’s very disheartening,” he said.
The front door of the new barBURRITO at 606 Laurelwood Drive in Waterloo has been broken.  (CTV Kitchener/Terry Kelly)
The BarBurrito franchise is Rajpoot’s first venture.  He said the break-in left him feeling disturbed.
“I’m not from Waterloo, I just thought of opening this store in Waterloo because I thought that’s a good place where young kids live because of the university, that’s why I came to this city to operate, but I don’t I don’t know if it was the right step now,” he said.

THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING

Police said the suspect targeted plazas with restaurants, lounges, clothing stores and cannabis shops, breaking glass doors or windows to gain entry.
Once inside the business, they stole cash and small items.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact them.