Two men have been charged with theft and arson after police extinguish fire.
On Saturday, August 28, 2021, police received a report that two men had just been observed stealing a bundle
of newspapers from the front of a store in the west end of Cobourg. A description and direction of travel of
the two men were provided to police
While officers searched the wooded area where the men had been last seen, they located a large fire directly
under a railway bridge. The fire contained the bundle of stolen newspapers, wooden pallets and copper wire.
Officers used fire extinguishers to put out the fire, and the Cobourg Fire Department attended to assist and
ensure the fire was properly extinguished.
While officers were at the scene of the fire, two men matching the description provided returned to the area.
As a result of the police investigation, 29-year-old Richard ADRIAANS of no fixed address and 27-year-old
William David CRUMB of Havelock were arrested and charged with the following offences:
1) Theft Under $5000 contrary to section 334(b) of the Criminal Code
2) Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000.00 contrary to section 355(b) of the Criminal
Code
3) Arson – Damage to Property contrary to section 434 of the Criminal Code
4) Fail to Comply with Probation contrary to section 733.1(1) of the Criminal Code
ADRIAANS was held in custody pending a bail hearing, and CRUMB was released on an Undertaking with a
future court date.