Confusing Home Invasion Leads To Many Arrests Including The Victim Himself

From a Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Media Release today...  

Robbery/Home Invasion/Weapons Arrest:

The victim, an 18-year-old male, was in his Charlotte Street apartment last night when he heard a knock at the door. He went to unlock it and was confronted by two males, one wearing a mask and the other had his face covered. The victim was sprayed in the face with bear spray, he fell to the ground and the two suspects entered the apartment and left a short time later. The victim reported that there was $190.00 stolen. The suspects fled and the police were called. Officers located the suspects walking across the No Frills parking lot on George Street heading towards the train bridge. When the officers confronted the males, they both gave false names and one of them fled on foot. The suspect who ran was apprehended after a short foot chase. Both males were arrested and found to be in possession of approximately 207 grams of marihuana with an estimated street value of $3,100.00, bear spray, a knife, mask and cell phones. The cash that the victim reported stolen was not in the accused’s possession. After further investigation, the victim revealed that the marihuana was stolen from his apartment and not the money. As a result Christopher Ernest Derrett age 30 of Gallery On The Lake Road in Buckhorn was charged with robbery with a weapon, break and enter, wearing a disguise while committing a criminal offence, assault with a weapon, obstructing a police officer, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, unauthorized possession of a weapon and five counts of failing to comply with conditions of a recognizance. Travis Joseph Edward Miller age 18 of Sherburne Street was charged with robbery with a weapon, break and enter, wearing a disguise while committing a criminal offence, assault with a weapon, obstructing a police officer, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, unauthorized possession of a weapon and failing to comply with a condition of a probation order. Both accused were held in custody and will appear in court later this morning. The victim, Chad Wilson age 18 was also arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He was released from custody and will appear in court on the 10th of November.

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Creepy Guy Arrested After Following Teenage Girls Around In His Truck

From a Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Media Release today... 

Criminal Harassment Arrest:

On the 11th of October at approximately 7:00 pm, two females ages 17 and 18, were walking their dogs in the area of Park Street and Braidwood Avenue and were being followed by a black pick up truck driven by a male. The girls left the area in a vehicle and when they returned they noticed the vehicle was still in the area watching them. The vehicle description and licence plate was obtained and the police were called. A short time later police received a second complaint that the black pick up truck was following a 14-year-old girl who had been walking on Braidwood Avenue near Park Street. The vehicle drove up beside the girl and the male driver asked her if she wanted a ride. As a result of the police investigation it was determined that the male’s actions led the victims to fear for their safety. At 11:57 pm the suspect, Robert Duncan Dougall age 26 of Fradette Avenue was arrested at his residence and charged with criminal harassment. He was held in custody and will appear in court later this morning.

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Man Who Keeps Spray Painting "Love Each Other" On Bank Of Montreal Building Has Been Caught & Arrested

From a Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Media Release today... 

photo via Ryan LalondeMischief Arrest:

On the 18th of August witnesses called police after watching a male spray paint a large red heart and the words “Love Each Other” on the south east wall of the Bank of Montreal on Simcoe Street. On the 30th of August the same message was spray-painted on the bank’s wall and on the 10th of October witnesses called the police after a male was seen spray-painting the same wall and then run to a vehicle. The police were called after the suspect’s licence plate number was obtained. As a result of the investigation, Michael Pilatzkie age 20 of Parkhill Road West was charged with three counts of mischief under $5,000.00. Damage for each incident has been estimated at $400.00. The accused will appear in court on the 27th of October.

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Don't Fall For This "Prize Pitch" Scam Police Warn Public

From a Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Media Release today...

Fraud Alert:

Police are warning the public of a "prize pitch" scam circulating in the Peterborough area. Several residents have been mailed cheques accompanied with an information package from ChemLogist in Vancouver B.C. The cheques are drawn on the account of W.G Hughs Services LTD. The information advises the recipient that they have won a prize as a result of using their credit card, debit card or other banking card while shopping at Wal-Mart, J.C. Penny, Sears, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Marshall and several other stores are listed. The information package directs the recipient to call a certain person at a listed telephone number so he can assist them in the process of claiming their winnings. Investigation has revealed that these cheques are counterfeit and you will be asked to send money to the operators of the scam in order to pay for delivery, processing, taxes, duties or some other fee. Fraudulent cheques are used in a variety of scams such as advance fee letter fraud, overpayment and prize pitch to name a few. Recipients that become involved in these counterfeit cashier's cheques, personal cheques, or corporate cheques scams will be financially responsible when the deposited counterfeit cheque is subsequently returned as counterfeit and charged back to their account.

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The Owners Of A Cat That Was Shot & Killed By Someone With A BB Gun Speak Out

Anyone with information is asked to call Police or Crime Stoppers.

[chextvDOTcom]

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Help Police Find The Man Who Assaulted A Woman On Brealey Drive

From a Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Media Release today...

Female assaulted on Brealey Drive.
 
On the 26th of September 2011, at approximately 1230 am a lone female was walking on Brealey Drive in the area of St. Josephs at Fleming.  She was grabbed from behind by an unknown male and knocked to the ground at which time she was kicked in the stomach and then punched in the face. The female managed to get away and ran to a friend's residence near by and called police.  The female was treated at released at the hospital for some bruising to her face and arms. The suspect is described as male, approximately 6 feet tall, wearing a black hooded sweater.  Anyone with information is asked to contact police of Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

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Here Is A Look At Crime Stats This Year In The City Compared To This Time Last Year

Sergeant DiClemente

We've been getting a lot of questions about whether crime is increasing significantly in Peterborough—break and enters and such. It seems it is, or optics are such that it is. So we asked Peterborough Police Sergeant Walter DiClemente about it, and here's some interesting stats he provided to us:

• Our second quarter crime stats show that our actual offences are down 8.1 % from the same time last year, and the clearance rate (that is, the percentage of the crimes that are solved) is up at 54.6% compared to 47.9% from the same time last year.
 
• Break and enters are down 26.5% and robberies are down 23.5% from the same time last year.

• We do have an increase in total weapon offences, up from 7 at the same time last year to 20, a 185.7% increase.
 
• Drug offences are up from 73 at the same time last year to 94, a 28.8% increase.

Some telling quotes from DiClemente on crime in the area:
-- "Recently we have been experiencing an increase in break and enters to compounds that store or use copper wire. This trend is not unique to this area, it is province wide."

-- "Since our college and university students have moved back to the area, we have had an increase in residential break and enters. Thieves are targeting laptop computers and electronic gaming units. This trend can be attributed to several students residing in the core area of the city and thieves taking advantage of unlocked and insecure doors and windows."
 
-- "The drug offensives are mainly officer initiated and can be attributed to the work conducted by our dedicated drug unit, who are targeting known drug dealers. We our also finding that these same drug dealers are arming themselves with weapons that are located during arrests."

[Related: Does Peterborough Need A Town Hall Meeting To Address Safety In The Community?]

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OPP Warning Public Of White Money Fraud Scam That's Hit The Area

From a Peterborough County media release this afternoon...

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to make the public aware of a fraudulent scam which has surfaced in the Orillia area over the past couple of weeks.

This scam, which is widespread and well documented on the internet, involves taking legitimate Canadian currency and placing it between this white or negative money in order to transfer the currency colouring onto the paper to make it positive.
 
There are different variations of how this fraud is perpetuated, but the underlying pretence which seems to resurface continually is a way to make some quick money after the fraudster gains the confidence of unsuspecting victim.

The fraudster gains the confidence by turning out the lights and then by shinning an ultraviolet light source on the white money, it reveals that the paper is embossed and appears to be a legitimate Canadian bank note without colour.
 
By asking the intended victim for a $50 bill, which is often willingly supplied, it is placed in a bag with an unknown liquid solution and black powder and then pressure is applied to the bag (by having the person stand on it or placing a heavy object on it for a period of time). Afterwards, the two pieces of ‘blackened paper’ are removed from the bag; the fraudster then puts on a pair of rubber gloves to ‘wash’ the bills and shows the money to the unsuspecting victim noting that the 3 bills have different serial numbers.

This elaborate scheme was used recently in the City of Orillia and the unsuspecting victims were almost defrauded of a very large amount of money.
 
The Orillia OPP Crime Unit commenced an investigation and on Wednesday September 14, 2011, 37-year old HALLIE ANDREWS NDORLEY of Oshawa, Ontario was arrested and charged with Attempt Fraud over $5000 and Attempt Theft over $5000.
NDORLETY was held in custody and appeared for a Bail Hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice located in Barrie on Thursday September 15, 2011.
 
The OPP are asking the public to be aware of this latest fraudulent scam that appears to have made its way into our area. In this case, the intended victims did not lose any money, but other victims have not been so fortunate.
 
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then it likely is.

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OPP Request Public's Assistance Due To Increase In Break And Enters In Peterborough And County

From Peterborough County OPP release today....

Police are requesting the public’s assistance and vigilance due to the increase in residential and commercial Break and Enters in the County and City of Peterborough.

Make note of any suspicious persons or vehicles in subdivisions and commercial areas during off or quiet hours.

Check that all home exterior lighting is functioning, all locks are in good working order and home windows are closed and secured during daily absences.

Ensure that vehicles are locked with any valuables secured or hidden and the keys are not left in the vehicle.

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Man Arrested For Shoplifting Meat From Farmboy Then Goes And Shoplifts Meat From No Frills

From a Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Media Release today... 

Male charged with shoplifting after 2nd Incident.
 
On the 16th of September 2011 at 330 pm a male was observed leaving Farmboy on Lansdowne St without paying for a quantity of meat. An off duty officer observed an employee chasing the male and he was arrested a short distance from the store without incident. The male was released on an adult diversion program, with no charge, at that time. That same day at 530 pm the same male was caught trying to steal a quantity of meat from No Frills on George St. As a result of the 2nd incident the male has now been charged in relation to both incidents. Charged is Robert Middleton, 35 yrs of Fairbairn St. He has a first court appearance date of the 13th of October 2011.

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