Police probing ‘targeted’ home invasion on Mountain

Neighbours say police spent all day and part of the night on Como Place Thursday

HAMILTON POLICE are investigating a targeted home invasion on the Mountain where a man was stabbed Thursday morning.

Around 8:45 a.m., three men — including one with a knife — forced their way into a home near Upper Wellington Street and Stone Church Road East, Const. Jerome Stewart said.

A 45-year-old man was stabbed, suffering non-life-threatening injuries, before the trio fled in a black sedan.

The home is on Como Place near a culde-sac at the end of the street. It’s owned by a member of the Luppino family, according to police sources and property records.

The man stabbed is not a member of the family, the police sources say.

The late Giacomo Luppino of Hamilton was considered a founding member of the Crimine, a governing body for the Italian ’Ndrangheta crime group.

When asked whether police are investigating the possibility that the home invasion is Mafia-related, Stewart said it’s being “investigated as a home invasion only.”

Two men leaving the house Friday morning said they knew nothing about the police activity on the street and declined to give their names or comment.

There was a significant police presence in the neighbourhood Thursday into Friday morning.

Police left a generic note for residents, asking them to call investigators if they have security cameras on their properties or if they “saw or heard anything suspicious” early Thursday morning.

Police said they believe the attack was targeted and there is no risk to public safety. The suspects are described as men between 30 and 40.

Anyone with information is asked to call Division 3 Criminal Investigations Branch at 905-546-3851. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.crimestoppershamilton.com