Weekly Media Release May 21st to 26th
Road Safety Week a Success
The Canada Road Safety Week campaign for 2019 was a great success. The municipal services of Grey Bruce area (West Grey Police, Owen Sound Police, Hanover Police and Saugeen Shores Police Service) partnered together to combat speeding, distracted driving, impaired and fatigued driving as well as a strong enforcement on wearing seatbelts. Between May 14th and 20th together, one-hundred and eleven provincial offence tickets were issued including two people who were found to be driving while their license was under suspension. A total of one-thousand-three-hundred and thirty-eight drivers were checked during RIDE Programs, which assisted in the laying of three impaired driving charges. While this public safety initiative was part of a national effort to help advance Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2025 to make Canada’s roadways the safest in the world, we are confident that the local efforts made over the past week will contribute to making the Grey Bruce area among the safest roads to drive on in Canada.
Break and Enter
On May 21st 2019, West Grey Police were dispatched to a Bentick area residence on Baseline road to respond to reports of a break and enter. At around noon hour, the victim returned home from work to find that the rear glass door to her walk out basement had been smashed. Once inside the suspect(s) went through the home and stole foreign currency and several different jewelry pieces (3 pair of gold earrings, one gold pennant with a diamond.) A canon camera T3siLR with long lens and flash were also taken as well as a Canon SX230 point and shoot camera. Suspects also managed to steal an 8″ Ipad, a 10″ Lenovo tablet and a pair of Celestial binoculars. The estimated value of the stolen goods is approximately $5,450 dollars. This investigation is on-going and anyone with information is asked to contact the West Grey Police Service at 519-371-6911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS should you wish to remain anonymous.
Fraud
On April 23rd 2019, a woman attended the West Grey Police Station to report that a fraud had occurred. The complainant advised that her mother had received a letter of collection from “Money Mart” which indicated that cheques had been written from her account and that some of the cheques had been declined. The victim reviewed her financials and confirmed that she had never written these cheques. Police contacted Money Mart’s financial crime department who were able to provide surveillance video of the suspect using the victim’s cheques in Hanover, Owen Sound and Guelph. Upon review of the surveillance footage, police were successfully able to identify the suspect who was known to police. Subsequent to police investigation, a second victim was identified and an arrest warrant was applied for. On May 15th 2019, West Grey police located and arrested the twenty-six year old Owen Sound man with the assistance of the Hanover Police Service. The accused was charged with thirteen fraud related criminal offences and was held for a bail hearing out of the Walkerton Courthouse where he was remanded in custody.
Mental Health Awareness Month
With Mental Health Awareness Month nearing an end, the West Grey Police Service has renewed their commitment to providing members with mental health resources. The service is working to keep an open dialogue when it comes to mental health issues with the common goal of ending the stigma that surrounds mental health. This week a new confidential therapy service for police staff, couples and their families was launched. West Grey Police now contract a psychotherapist who has been in private practice since 1993 and specializations in trauma, PTSD, and first responders. She will also assist leadership with the services occupational stress injury and PTSD prevention plan. Each member also has access to short term counselling, life coaching services, referrals, and online resources. That includes an e-service tool to assist with depression and anxiety that our members or their loved ones may be experiencing.
Break and Enter
An 81 year old Glenelg man was victim of a break and enter this week when he returned to his seasonal property. The man had left his 40th Sideroad home for the weekend on the 17th of May and returned on the 20th to find his residence had been broken into. The victim reports to police that suspects had gained entry through his basement window by prying it open and cutting the screen. Once inside, the culprits removed stole two Honda generators from the basement and then stole a 24″ golden dragon concrete sculpture from outside. The estimated value of the stolen goods is $3,100. A single set of ATV tracks were observed leading to the property. Police are asking anyone with information in relation to this break and enter please contact the West Grey Police Service at 519-371-6911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 should you wish to remain anonymous. The investigation into the break and enter is on-going.
Media Inquiries:
Cst. Cory Trainor
Media Relations Officer
West Grey Police Service
519-369-3046
ctrainor@westgreyps.ca