The power of social media came through again as a stolen vehicle was recovered after being posted on Facebook.
Shortly after 7 a.m. on Friday, April 19, 2019 a Cobourg woman noticed that her car had been stolen from the families home in the north end of Cobourg.
Immediately she called police to report the theft and at approximately 7:30 a.m. she posted a photo of the vehicle on Facebook stating it had been stolen.
Immediately people started sharing the post that had a photo attached of the vehicle.
In a strange twist of events, Kara Milner spotted the vehicle twice on Highway 401, but didn’t realize it was stolen until she got home and saw a post on Facebook.
Milner was driving her son to work about 6:30 a.m. when she noticed a vehicle against the wall just west of Burnham Street in the westbound lanes of the highway.
“The vehicle was over to the side of the road on the fast lane, with the rear end of the drivers side touching the wall,” she told Today’s Northumberland.
“It was on a weird angle and I thought, that’s a really weird place to stop, I wonder if they need help, should I call it in?
On her way back, Milner again spotted the vehicle, only it on the shoulder and looked like it was abandoned.
“Shortly passed that I saw a person on the side of the road putting a jacket on with a duffle bag with them.”
With almost everyone having a cell phone, she didn’t call it in as it didn’t appear to be an accident. It just appeared someone may have had car trouble.
“When I saw the person at the side of the road there was no way I could have stopped, but I did feel a bit guilty for not stopping.”
When Milner got home she was browsing through Facebook posts and came upon one that showed a photo of the vehicle stating it had recently been stolen.
“When I saw it later on social media I thought, “oh my God that’s what I saw, I better called it in.”
Milner quickly called police.
A short time later Cobourg Police also received a call of a suspicious male going through vehicles in the west end of Cobourg at approximately 8:13 a.m.
When police arrived a suspect was located in the area matching the description.
Upon investigation, police determined the suspect was in possession of a stolen vehicle overnight in Cobourg.
After being arrested, it was immediately apparent that this male has several items of stolen property in his possession from what appears to be several other theft from motor vehicles.
A 18-year-old from Roseneath is currently being charged with the following offences
· theft over $5,000 (vehicle)
· possession of property over $5,000
· possession of stolen property under $5,000 2x
Police say the stolen vehicle on Highway 401 most likely had mechanical problems and that is the reason it was at the side of the road.
The owner of the vehicle is extremely grateful to everyone who helped in the sharing the video which was shared over 200 times in a short amount of time.
“We’re feeling very grateful and truly appreciate the community coming together and the work of the Cobourg Police and OPP for such a quick resolution.”
“We also received numerous offers from people to borrow vehicles, borrow car seats or have their old car seats.”
“It was such a quick response and truly amazing!”
The investigation is ongoing and police advise if anyone has not yet reported a theft from their vehicle, the Cobourg Police Services request that you contact their front desk.
Cobourg Police state the incident does not appear to match the suspects from the reported thefts from vehicles on Prince Of Wales Drive (but police have not issued a release on thefts from Prince of Wales Drive, although Today’s Northumberland has posted about the thefts and posted video).
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
