October 16, 2015
1485
THIEVES ARE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY
(HURON COUNTY, ON) - Huron County OPP officers continue to investigate a recent spike in the number of stolen vehicles. In the past couple of days, police have had an additional three vehicles and a trailer reported stolen. In each of these latest stolen vehicle occurrences, the vehicles were left insecure with the keys inside the vehicle.
Oct. 15, at approximately 2:15 a.m., a sleeping Moncrieff Road resident was alerted to his barking dogs. He looked outside and saw both of his pick-up trucks leaving his property. The owner attempted to follow the trucks but lost sight of them at Newry Road. The thieves made off with a blue 2003 Dodge Ram valued at $3,000 and a grey 2004 GMC Sierra extended cab pick-up valued at $3,500. The GMC Sierra pick-up truck has a large roof rack with a ladder on it. In addition, there was a trenching machine valued at $5,000 in the back of the truck box.
Huron OPP is also investigating the theft of a white 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche that was stolen from a nearby commercial property located on Livingstone Line. The vehicle had been on the property overnight as it was scheduled for service the next day. The vehicle was stolen sometime between 6 p.m. Oct. 14, and 10 a.m. Oct. 15. The Chevrolet Avalanche had “Z71” written in pink camo on the sides of the cargo box. The vehicle is valued at approximately $10,000.
Huron OPP officers are also investigating the recent theft of a utility trailer and diesel fuel stolen from farm property located on Plugtown Line in South Huron. Officers believe the theft took place sometime between 5 p.m. Oct. 14 ,and 7 a.m. Oct. 15. The trailer is described as a two-axle 2014 AJJS model 821, aluminum utility trailer. The trailer has a flat bed with raised sides and two attached ramps. In addition to the trailer theft, those responsible siphoned a quantity of diesel fuel from various machines located on the property.
“Despite our best efforts to remind the public to “Lock-it or Lose-it,” we continue to see too many vehicle owners making poor choices when it comes to protecting their property," says Huron OPP staff sergeant Shawn Johnson. "Huron County is a very safe place to live; however, let’s not take that security for granted by leaving the ignition key in an unattended vehicle. Quite frankly, you’re taking a chance your vehicle won’t be there the next time you look for it. Please take some personal responsibility in protecting your property. The message is very simple: Remove your valuables, take your ignition key and Lock it Up!"
Any person with information regarding these stolen vehicle occurrences or any other crime, should immediately contact Huron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-8314. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMPAIGN MAKES AN IMPACT ON ONTARIO ROADS
(HURON COUNTY, ON) – OPP officers were kept busy over the Thanksgiving weekend during the national four-day traffic safety initiative called Operation Impact. Enforcement efforts appear to be having an impact because preliminary statistics indicate that the number of charges in two of the four main causal factors in motor vehicle collisions is down over the same period last year.
What is alarming to police after this long weekend is that the number of stunt-driving charges on Ontario roads is up 71 per cent over the same period last year.
Speeding and distracted driving charges are down, but police report the number of seatbelt and impaired-driving charges is up. Across the province, 478 seatbelt charges were laid, and 83 people were charged with impaired driving. Four people lost their lives this weekend in fatal motor vehicle collisions; speed was a factor in two of the deaths, and in one of the fatalities, alcohol was involved.
“I find the weekend statistics alarming," says chief superintendent Chuck Cox, OPP Highway Safety Division. "Following the OPP’s annual Fall Seatbelt Campaign that began in late September and resulted in almost 5,500 seatbelt-related charges being laid, it is disappointing to learn that people are still not wearing a seatbelt. Motorists in this province know that wearing a seatbelt can save lives. It is senseless for anyone to be in a moving motor vehicle without buckling up. OPP officers will remain vigilant beyond any traffic safety campaign to ensure that Ontario’s roads are the safest in the country.
During Operation Impact, Huron County OPP officers charged 114 drivers with speeding, one driver was charged with racing, three were charged with impaired/over-80, and two were served with alcohol warn-range suspensions.
During the Fall Seatbelt Campaign which took place from Sept. 23 to Oct. 9, Huron OPP officers charged 54 people with seatbelt violations.
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