On December 6,2023, the Peterborough County OPP made three arrests in relation to multiple cross jurisdiction thefts. Media was given opportunity to observe the recovered items on December 8, 2023.
On December 1, 2023, the Peterborough County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call from a local business in Selwyn Township reporting that some time the night before, the lock to their compound had been cut and removed and three snow blowers had been taken. The business provided security footage which showed a dark coloured pickup truck had entered the property. The value of the snow blowers was roughly $7,000.
On December 4, 2023, the Peterborough County OPP received a call from a business owner in the Asphodel-Norwood Township reporting that a fully enclosed trailer had been taken through the night. The trailer was taken from a property located on County Road 45 in the Norwood area and was wrapped with their company logos. Again, a black pickup truck was noted as being involved.
The value of the trailer was estimated at $15,000.
On December 5, 2023, the Peterborough County OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) arrested two individuals in relation to the theft of the three snow blowers.
As a result of the investigation the following arrests were made.
Jamie JONES (age 53) of Asphodel-Norwood Township, ON., was arrested and charged with:
· Break, Enter a place – commit indictable offence
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000
· Fail to comply with Probation Order
· Possession of Break In Instruments
The accused was held for Bail and was to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough.
Paul SLADECZEK (age 49) of Trent Hills, ON., was arrested and charged with:
· Break, Enter a place – commit indictable offence
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000
· Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000
· Fail to comply with Probation Order – two counts
· Possession of Break In Instruments
The accused was held for Bail and was to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Peterborough.
On December 6, 2023, the Peterborough County OPP CSCU, assisted by the Northumberland OPP CSCU, executed a search warrant at a property in Trent Hills. Approximately $50,000 worth of stolen items were recovered during the search including the trailer that was reported stolen a few days earlier.
A third individual was charged as a result of the execution of the warrant.
Lisa EVEGROEN (age 45) of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township, ON., was arrested and charged with:
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
The accused is to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg on January 10, 2023.
It has been determined that the recovered items are a result of thefts that occurred from Ottawa, Kingston, Cobourg, Newmarket, Belleville, and Peterborough. Officers are continuing to ensure that items recovered are returned to the rightful owners throughout the above-mentioned jurisdictions.