On August 11, 2022, Cobourg Police Service (CPS) uniform members entered an investigation after being notified that a complainant tracked their stolen computer to a residence in the Town of Cobourg. Responding officers determined that the laptop was in a vehicle in the home’s parking lot.
On August 12, 2022, the CPS Criminal Investigations Branch obtained Judicial Authorization to search the vehicle. The search resulted in the seizure of dozens of stolen property items, including 13 laptops/tablets, numerous government-issued identification cards, cheques, and banking and tax documents not belonging to the owner of the vehicle. The value associated with the property recovered exceeds $38,000.
Collaborative investigation with CPS, the Durham Regional Police Service, and York Regional Police revealed that the property had been stolen during a string of “Smash-and-Grab” thefts from vehicles at several golf courses and thefts from mailboxes in the Durham and York Regions.
On August 18, 2022, Roderick Newman, a 30-year-old Cobourg man, was arrested and charged with the following:
• 19 counts of Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5,000 contrary to section 355(b) of the Criminal Code
• Three counts of Possession of Forged Document contrary to section 368(1)(d) of the Criminal Code
• Two counts of Possession of Property Over $5,000 contrary to section 355(a) of the Criminal Code
• 17 counts of Possession of Article Stolen from Mail contrary to section 356(1)(b) of the Criminal Code
• One count of Possession of a schedule I substance contrary to section 4(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
NEWMAN was remanded into custody with a court date on August 23, 2022. Additional charges are pending from the York and Durham Region investigations.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-372-6821 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or online at www.stopcrimehere.ca. Tips received through Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.
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
